2020

2020

April 2020

Mass Media

Virgin Islands Daily News. “Bryan Seeks More Federal COVID-19 Relief.” Virgin Islands Daily News, April 22, 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/bryan-seeks-more-federal-covid-19-relief/article_e6c4d1e4-6e03-535a-ba6c-c10ec10a6a97.html.

• Governor Bryan appealed to Congress for expanded federal relief beyond the CARES Act, citing financial losses from halted tourism and the delayed opening of Limetree Bay Refinery.

Buchanan, Don. “Benefits of Crude’s Plunging Price Is Trickling Down to V.I.” St. Croix Source, April 23, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/04/23/benefits-of-crudes-plunging-price-is-trickling-down-to-v-i/.

• The impact of declining crude oil prices on Limetree Bay Refinery remained uncertain in April 2020, though residents anticipated possible reductions in utility bills, which were partially oil-based.

May 2020

Academic Publications

Nicol, E. A. “Caribbean Women and Their Art: An Encyclopedia.” Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries 57, no. 9 (May 2020): 964.

• A review of Mary Ellen Snodgrass’s Caribbean Women and Their Art: An Encyclopedia, originally published in 2019. The entry notes the work’s contribution to academic reference literature on Caribbean women’s creative expression.

Mass Media

S&P Global Platts. “Spotlight: Big Changes to Oil Export Flows in the USGC Region.” S&P Global, May 4, 2020. https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/oil/050420-analytics-spotlight-big-changes-oil-export-flows-usgc.

• Croix saw a significant increase in U.S. crude imports beginning in April 2020. This uptick is attributed to heightened storage needs amid sharply reduced global refining demand due to the pandemic.

Reuters. “Factbox: Oil Refineries Curb Output as Coronavirus Cuts Fuel Use.” Reuters, May 15, 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/global-oil-refining-capacity/factbox-oil-refineries-cut-output-as-coronavirus-hits-fuel-demand-idUSL4N2BN72T.

• Travel restrictions and reduced economic activity devastated fuel demand in early 2020. As of March 23, Limetree Bay’s restart plans had been disrupted by the global downturn

June 2020

Academic Publications

Environmental Science

Griffin, Lucas P., Brian J. Smith, Michael S. Cherkiss, Andrew G. Crowder, Clayton G. Pollock, Zandy Hillis-Starr, Andy J. Danylchuk, and Kristen M. Hart. “Space use and relative habitat selection for immature green turtles within a Caribbean marine protected area.” Animal Biotelemetry 8, no. 22 (June 2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-020-00209-9.

• This study uses acoustic telemetry and resource selection functions to examine immature green turtles’ use of space and habitat selection in the marine protected area of Buck Island Reef National Monument in St. Croix. The authors found that the turtles in this protected area “have small, specific home ranges and core use areas with temporally varying relative selection strengths across habitat types.” They also determined that the methods employed in this study were useful and could contribute to future studies having to do with resource management and habitat protection.

Krauss, Ken W., Andrew S. From, Caroline S. Rogers, Kevin R. T. Whelan, Kristin W. Grimes, Robert C. Dobbs, and Thomas Kelley. “Structural Impacts, Carbon Losses, and Regeneration in Mangrove Wetlands after Two Hurricanes on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands.” Wetlands and Climate Change (June 2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-020-01313-5.

• This study was intended to measure the damage to mangrove wetlands on St. John as a result of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. The authors found that the sub-optimal pre-hurricane conditions and the damage from two hurricanes in a short period of time has significantly affected the regeneration of these mangroves.

US Federal Government

Chaitram, Samantha S. S. American Foreign Policy in the English-Speaking Caribbean from the Eighteenth to the Twenty-First Century. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave McMillan, 2020.

• This work traces US foreign policy in the English-Speaking Caribbean from the point of European contact up until the present Trump administration. She focuses specifically on The Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana. The author argues that despite some conflict and tension, the US and the English-speaking Caribbean have had strong and critical bonds that have resulted in a consistent “mutually beneficial relationship.” (2) She also finds that US motives for engaging with Caribbean nations consistently had to do with economic and security interests. Chapter 1 is an introduction. Chapter 2 looks at the development of the English-speaking Caribbean from 1492-1945. Chapter 3 looks at US foreign policy in the Caribbean from 1823-1945. Chapter 4 focuses on the Cold War era. Chapter 5 looks at the post-Cold War era. Chapter 6 looks at George W. Bush’s and Barack Obama’s foreign policy in the Caribbean. And finally, chapter 7 examines Donald Trump’s foreign policy in the Caribbean.

USVI Infrastructure

Wine, William M. “Analyzing Cell Phone Network Resilience in the U.S. Virgin Islands.” MS Thesis, Naval Postgraduate School, 2020. https://calhoun.nps.edu/handle/10945/65473.

• This study is a part of a greater effort by federal and territorial authorities to evaluate the vulnerability of USVI infrastructure and improve resilience in preparation for future disasters. The author developed a model using the Terrain Integrated Rough Earth Model to evaluate the resilience of the wireless communication network in the USVI under normal circumstances and in disaster situations. By determining what areas and critical infrastructure each tower covers, the author makes recommendations for which towers should be strengthened, where new towers would have the greatest effect, and, in a disaster situation that causes damage to the network, which towers should be fixed first in order to mitigate a storm’s impact on the islands.

Oil Refining

Damuchali, Ali Motalebi and Huiqing Guo. “Evaluation of odor properties, their relationships, and impact of an oil refinery plant on the surrounding environment using field measurements.” Atmospheric Environment 230, (June 2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117480.

• This study addresses odor emissions from oil refineries. The main purpose of this investigation is to contribute to the development of setback distances, as the odors emitted from oil refineries can negatively effect nearby residents. By studying the odor emitted from an oil refinery in Western Canada, the authors determined that depending on weather conditions, odors can travel up to 7 km.

Race & Gender Studies

Murrell, Gerlyn. “Escucha Nuestras Voces/Luister Naar Onze Stemmen: Afro-Caribbean Girlhood in the Dutch West Indies.” MA Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/98819.

• In this study, the author conducted audio and video interviews with nine girls, aged 14, 16, and 17, to study the ways that Black girls in Sint Maarten conceptualize and navigate their girlhoods. She introduces the theory of “Black girlhood as a space and place where girls narrate, navigate and negotiate their experiences.” (78)

Tourism 

Almeyda, Marta and Babu George. “Customer-Based Brand Equity for Tourist Destinations: A Comparison of Equities of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.” Journal of Spatial and Organizational Dynamics 8, no. 2 (June 2020): 148-172. https://doaj.org/article/603d588759bb483b8414116d0b7f8ed6.

This study evaluates and compares the branding of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands as tourist destinations. The study evaluated each destination on five elements, “social image, price/value, trustworthiness, identification/attachment, and brand performance.” (148) The authors found that the two destinations had similar brand equity, with the USVI scoring slightly higher than Puerto Rico. The USVI rated higher than Puerto Rico in every category except price/value. The authors recommend that both Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, as well as other regions looking to increase tourism, conduct extensive research to inform future branding that is unique and differentiates the region from other destinations. For example, they should understand what specific factors appeal to tourists, unique strengths and weaknesses, how much tourists are willing to spend, and how they react to price changes.

Women’s Health

Chernyak, Elena, Ryan Ceresola, and Morgan Herrold. “From past to present: children’s exposure of intimate partner violence and subsequent experience of IPV in adulthood among women.” Journal of Gender-Based Violence 4, no. 2 (June 2020): 259-278. https://doi.org/10.1332/239868020X15893856098343.

• This study examines the correlation of girls witnessing intimate partner violence in their families and experiencing intimate partner violence as an adult in 10 developing countries including Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The study showed that in all countries, witnessing intimate partner violence as a girl “significantly increases the likelihood” of experiencing intimate partner violence later in life.

Gokoel, Anisma R., Wilco C. W. R. Zijlmans, Hanna H. Covert, Firoz Abdoel Wahid, Arti Shankar, M. Sigrid MacDonald-Ottevanger, Ashna D. Hindori-Mohangoo, Jeffrey K. Wickliffe, Maureen Y. Lichtveld, and Emily W. Harville. “Influence of Prenatal Exposure to Mercury, Perceived Stress, and Depression on Birth Outcomes in Suriname: Results from the MeKiTamara Study.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 12 (June 2020): 4444. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124444.

• This study evaluates how mercury exposure, stress, and depression in pregnant women in Suriname can affect preterm birth, low birthweight, and low Apgar scores. The authors found that 37.5% of pregnant women had elevated mercury levels, 27.2% of pregnant women had high stress levels, and 22.4% of pregnant women likely had depression. They also found that mercury exposure was linked with preterm birth and stress was linked with a low Apgar score, though depression was not found to be linked with any birth outcome. The authors suggest further studies in how pregnant women are being exposed to mercury, specifically through fish intake, and government recommendations for fish intake. They also recommend early screening for stress and depression.

George, Sophia H.L., Talia Donenberg, Cheryl Alexis, Vincent DeGennaro, Hedda Dyer, Sook Yin, Priscila Barreto-Coelho, Simonnette Thompson et al. “The spectrum of germline mutation carriers in a cohort of breast and ovarian cancer patients in the Caribbean.” American Association for Cancer Research 29, no. 6 (June 2020): C060. https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7755.DISP18-C060.

• This study sought to identify breast cancer gene mutations in people with breast and/or ovarian cancer in the Caribbean. They found that a significant number of people with breast cancer or ovarian cancer had a deleterious gene mutation. The authors thus concluded that breast cancer is often genetic in the Caribbean. Note: This is an abstract for a poster presentation at the November 2018 Eleventh AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved.

Grabe, Shelly and Daniel Rodríguez Ramírez. “Reproductive Justice: The Role of Community-Based Organizational Participation in Reproductive Decision-Making and Educational Aspirations among Women in Nicaragua.” Journal of Social Issues 76, no. 2 (June 2020): 391-415. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12377.

• In this study, the authors use a reproductive justice framework to evaluate how a grassroots, women-led organization in rural Nicaragua affects women’s agency in making decisions about their reproductive health and increased educational aspirations. They found that participation in this organization increased self-esteem and decreased feelings of powerlessness, which resulted in women being more able to express reproductive health concerns, more equipped to express and achieve reproductive health desires, and having increased educational aspirations. The authors assert that these findings underscore the importance of community-based organizations, women-led programs and environments, and the distribution of information about women’s rights,

Teelucksingh, Surujpal, Hyacinth Chow, Fallon K. Lutchmansingh, and Samuel Ramsewak. “1223-P: Diabetes in Pregnancy in the Caribbean: A Systems Enablement Approach to Universal Access, Screening, and Treatment.” American Diabetes Association 69, (June 2020). https://doi.org/10.2337/db20-1223-P.

• This poster presented an application introduced and tested in Trinidad and Tobago. The application was built to streamline reporting of blood glucose levels in order to monitor the prevalence of diabetes in pregnant women. The authors assert that a centralized and standardized reporting system would be beneficial because it could integrate into other health systems and it would provide a fast and easy way for patients and providers to obtain results.

Tsapalas, Daphne, Morgan Parker, Lilian Ferrer, and Margartia Bernales. “Gender-Based Violence, Perspectives in Latin America and the Caribbean.” Hispanic Health Care International (June 2020). https://doi.org/10.1177/1540415320924768.

• For this paper the authors conducted a review of literature on gender-based violence (GBV) in Latin America and the Caribbean. They determined that some of the key steps to reduce GBV include improved education for health care professionals so that they can identify and address GBV in a way that empowers victims, does not normalize or trivialize GBV, is understanding of underrepresented groups, and that takes stigma into account. Additionally, the authors assert that while these changes in healthcare are necessary, GBV is a “culturally created public health problem” that requires a “cultural realignment of both larger society and health care systems.” (13) Thus, addressing the male-dominated gender binary system, the normalization of GBV, and the lack of consequences for perpetrators of violence should be the primary goals.

Vidal, Oscar M., Jorge Acosta-Reyes, Jesús Padilla, Edgar Navarro-Lechuga, Elsa Bravo, Diego Viasus, Mauricio-Arcos-Burgos, and Jorge I. Vélez. “Chikungunya outbreak (2015) in the Columbian Caribbean: Latent classes and gender differences in virus infection.” PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 14, no. 6 (June 2020). https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.12478004.

• The authors studied clinical data from patients diagnosed with the mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in 2014 and found that different responses to the virus may be a result of differential phenotypic responses. Specifically, they found that women appear to be more susceptible to infection than men.

Viel, Jean-François, Léah Michineau, Céline Garbin, Christine Monfort, Philippe Kadhel, Luc Multigner, Florence Rouget. “Impact of Saharan Dust on Severe Small for Gestational Births in the Caribbean.” American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 102, no. 6 (June 2020): 1463-1465. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.19-0699.

• This study evaluated the effects of exposure to Saharan dust in pregnant women on severe small for gestational-age births in Guadeloupe. The study found that prenatal exposure to Saharan dust may be correlated with low birth weight. They found no correlation between exposure and birth length or head circumference.

Mass Media

Limetree Bay

Buchanan, Don. “Senators, Administrators Look to Cushion Economic Impact of Quarantine.” St. Croix Source, June 10, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/06/10/senators-administrators-look-to-cushion-economic-impact-of-quarantine/.

• This article discusses the toll the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the economy of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the ways the government is trying to mitigate the damage. Budget Director Jenifer O’Neal explained some of the major economic issues including issues regarding the re-opening of Limetree Bay. The pandemic has delayed the refinery’s re-opening, and once open it could provide important jobs, but many who were working in construction to re-open the refinery could lose their jobs.

Gilbert, Ernice. “Government Hiring Freeze to Remain in Place for ‘Foreseeable Future’, OMB Says in Bryan’s 2021 Budget Proposal.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, June 1, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-government/virgin-islands-government-hiring-freeze-to-remain-in-place-for-foreseeable-future-omb-says-in-bryans-2021-budget-proposal-.

• To address COVID-19-related budget issues and prevent laying off government workers, the U.S. Virgin Islands government has eliminated job vacancies in the 2021 budget, thus continuing the hiring freeze. Two of the major issues contributing to the economic situation include drastically lower tourism and the delay in re-opening Limetree Bay which, once opened, will provide important jobs, but will also lay off temporary workers hired to facilitate re-opening. There is also concern that the lower demand in oil could hurt the oil industry and thus the Limetree Bay refinery. The article continues to explain additional features of the 2021 budget.

James, Canute. “Restart of Virgin Islands refinery delayed again.” Argus Media, June 10, 2020. https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2113313-restart-of-virgin-islands-refinery-delayed-again.

• The re-opening of the refinery may be delayed again as a result of a decrease in demand because of COVID-19. St. Croix’s Budget Director Jenifer O’Neal specifically cited lower oil demand from the cruise industry.

“Limetree Bay Successful Loads Several Million Barrels of Oil to Very Large Crude Carriers With New Single Point Mooring Buoy.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, June 5, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-business/virgin-islands-limetree-bay-successful-loads-several-million-barrels-of-oil-to-very-large-crude-carriers-with-new-single-point-mooring-buoy.

• On June 5 Limetree Bay announced that in May it had successfully loaded several million barrels of oil to a carrier ship using a new Single Point Mooring buoy that connects to the facility using subsea pipelines.

“Limetree Bay Successfully Commissions Single Point Mooring.”  The St. Croix Source, June 6, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/06/06/limetree-bay-successfully-commissions-single-point-mooring/.

• In May Limetree Bay Terminals successfully used its new offshore mooring platform and loaded several million barrels of oil to a carrier ship using a new Single Point Mooring buoy that connects to the facility using subsea pipelines.

Rao, A.J. “Bryan submits trimmer budget amid COVID-19 fallout.” The Virgin Islands Daily News, June 4, 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/bryan-submits-trimmer-budget-amid-covid-19-fallout/article_562378c5-0631-59c4-aeec-8aa6a7abf4f9.html.

• Governor Bryan submitted a 2021 budget to the legislature that includes significant budget cuts in order to address the economic damage caused by COVID-19. Budget Director Jenifer O’Neal explained that the budget addresses the economic impact that the pandemic has had on the USVI including reducing tourism-related income, potentially delaying the re-opening of the LimeTree Bay refinery, and potentially hurting the refinery’s success due to a lower demand for oil.

Sanicola, Laura. “Exclusive: Price of Caribbean refinery overhaul nearly doubles to $2.7 billion as startup nears.” Reuters, June 22, 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-refinery-virginislands-exclusive/exclusive-price-of-caribbean-refinery-overhaul-nearly-doubles-to-2-7-billion-as-startup-nears-idUSKBN23T32T.

• The cost of reopening the St. Croix oil refinery has increased to approximately $2.7 billion according to the reporter’s sources. This is almost double the initial projection of $1.4 billion. The increase in cost is due to repairs needed to re-open the shuttered refinery. These repairs, as well as other issues re-opening the refinery, have also resulted in delays. However, Limetree Bay Ventures President Brian Lever stated that he expected to begin operations within a few weeks of this article’s writing.

 

July 2020

Academic Publications

Caribbean Governments

Reece, Nikita. “The Myth of Equality: Women and Political Participation in the PostColonial Caribbean.” MA Thesis, Universitat Jaume I, 2020. http://repositori.uji.es/xmlui/handle/10234/189316.

• In this thesis, Nikita Reece examines women’s political participation in the Caribbean. Reece concludes that women’s participation in policy-making is strongly linked with “greater representation of women in society.” Note: This thesis does not appear to be publicly available.

Empire

Flood, Amelia. “‘Neither citizen nor alien’: Migration, Territoriality, and Malfunctioning Empire in the US Virgin Islands.” Journal of Transnational American Studies 11, no. 1 (2020). https://escholarship.org/uc/item/24k7423t.

• In this paper, Amelia Flood looks at the case of one woman, Leander Holder, to examine the reach and limitations of U.S. imperial power in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Holder was born on St. Thomas but moved to the U.S. mainland before the U.S. took control of the island from Denmark. In 1924, after visiting St. Thomas she attempted to book a return trip to New York City, but was denied passage by the steamship company. They believed she was not a U.S. citizen because she was not living on St. Thomas when the U.S. took control, and therefore was not automatically granted U.S. citizenship. Company officials also thought she was subject to the quotas in the newly enacted Johnson Reed Act. Flood uses this case and the subsequent ACLU legal battle to examine the intersection of race, gender, migration, and empire that created an ambiguous, in-between citizenship status for people from the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Environmental Science

Ferrarezi, Rhuanito Soranz, Thomas C. Geiger, Jayar Greenidge, Shamali Dennery, Stuart A. Weiss, and Gustavo H.S. Vieira. “Microirrigation Equipment for Okra Cultivation in the U.S. Virgin Islands.” HortScience 55, no. 7 (July 2020): 1045-1052. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15021-20.

• This study evaluated four different irrigation systems of varying efficiencies for okra production in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The authors found that there was no difference in the okra crops grown using the different irrigation systems, thus suggesting that irrigation efficiency can be improved with no effect on okra crops.

Romero, Mareike Donaji Duffing, Jordan K. Matley, Jiangang Luo, Jerald S. Ault, Simon J. Pittman, and Richard S. Nemeth. “Movement Patterns of Atlantic Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) in Brewers Bay, St. Thomas US Virgin Islands.” Unpublished manuscript, July 28, 2020. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-48910/v1.

• This study used acoustic telemetry to track the space-use patterns of Atlantic tarpon in St. Thomas. The authors found that tarpon have “distinct and mostly non-overlapping home ranges except when seasonally abundant food sources were present.” The authors suggest that this information will be useful for managing tarpon populations.

Oil Industry 

Arellano, Juan Jose, Javier Enrique Pozzo Huerta, Rachel Johnson, Isabel Poletzky, and Bikram Kumar. “Case Study: Implementing Continuous Circulation and Managed Pressure Drilling Techniques to Drill in the Challenging Perla Gas Field in Offshore Venezuela.” Society of Petroleum Engineers (July 2020). https://doi.org/10.2118/199065-MS.

• There are several challenges in drilling wells in the Perla Gas Field “because of its narrow pore pressure and fracture pressure window.” This paper reports on the techniques implemented for drilling two wells in 2016 to improve upon the methods used when a well was drilled in 2010. The operators in 2016 implemented two specific techniques to achieve better results than in 2010—continuous circulation and managed pressure drilling. Based on the 2016 results, the authors suggest that the combining these two techniques is a feasible and productive method.

Jobson, Ryan Cecil. “States of Crisis, Flags of Convenience: An Introduction.” Small Axe 24, no. 2 (July 2020). https://muse-jhu-edu.ccl.idm.oclc.org/article/762557.

• This essay is an introduction to a special section, “States of Crisis,” within the journalSmall Axe. The section is composed of selected papers presented at “States of Crisis: Disaster, Recovery, and Possibility in the Caribbean,” at Columbia University in May 2019. In this introduction, Jobson looks at environmental devastation and climate change by linking two different events in 2019, Hurricane Dorian and the arrival of the Liza Destiny, the first oil production vessel, contracted by Hess but flying a Bahamian flag of convenience, in Guyanese waters. He writes about flags of convenience as an example of economic nationalism in the Caribbean. The tension is thus between this economic nationalism and the threat of climate change-related extinction of the Caribbean, caused in part by economic nationalism. Jobson argues that if extinction is to be prevented, Caribbean governments must forge a sense of regional solidarity. He concludes with brief summaries of the papers in the section.

Mahadeo, Scott Mark Romeo. “Essays on contagion analysis in a small open petroleum economy.” PhD diss., Keele University, 2020. https://eprints.keele.ac.uk/8300/1/MahadeoPhD2020.pdf.

• This dissertation focuses on the relationships between the economy of Trinidad and Tobago and the economies of other nations and how they fluctuate and affect each other during different situations. Specifically, he looks at how economic crises can spread from other nations to Trinidad and Tobago. He finds that other than the 2008/2009 financial crisis, foreign economic crises have little effect on the economy of Trinidad and Tobago. However, there is a correlation between the international crude oil market and the value of Trinidad and Tobago currency, and that currency appreciates when international oil prices fall.

Research Methods

Louis-Charles, Hans M., Rosalyn Howard, Lionel Remy, Farah Nibbs, and Grace Turner. “Ethical Considerations for Postdisaster Fieldwork and Data Collection in the Caribbean.” American Behavioral Scientist 64, no. 8 (July 2020): 1129-1144. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0002764220938113.

• Researchers often want to conduct research immediately after disasters in the Caribbean, but this can put a large burden on the people who experienced disaster and are asked to participate in research. Additionally, there was an increasing amount of unethical research practices after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Caribbean governments are implementing an approval process to review research projects and deny those deemed unethical. Using a justice approach, this paper proposes a checklist for researchers to ensure that their post-disaster research methods are ethical. There are 12 goals on the list, including ethics committee or IRB approval, local oversight, cultural competency training, not requiring participation in exchange for aid, proficiency in the local language, timing research to be conducted after the emergency acute phase and to not put a strain on resources, and more. The authors acknowledge that this checklist might not be completely feasible for every researcher and that it may not be precisely applicable to every disaster, but approaching research in this way will ensure more ethical research methods.

Slavery

Reifschneider, Meredith and Dana N. Bardolph. “An Archaeobotanical Approach to Well-Being: Enslaved Plant Use at Estate Cane Garden, 19th Century St. Croix.” Journal of Field Archaeology 45, no. 7 (July 2020): 512-526. https://doi.org/10.1080/00934690.2020.1792732.

• Using an archaeobotanical approach, the authors study a former plantation hospital in St. Croix, Estate Cane Garden, to learn how enslaved people used plants to better their conditions. Evidence shows an abundance of both wild and cultivated plants near the hospital, and that “nearly all of the recovered plants have documented historical and ethnographic medicinal and nutritional importance.” (523)The authors conclude, therefore, that enslaved nurses at Estate Cane Garden used wild and cultivated plants for medicinal and nutritional purposes at the hospital, and more generally to improve their conditions as well as those of their patients. They further suggest that the foraging of wild plants was likely done by other enslaved people who provided the plants to the nurses, thus showing one example of how enslaved people pushed back against enslavers’ control.

Tourism

Pastore, Francesco, Allan Webster, and Kevin Hope. “Assessing the Role of Women in Tourism Related Sectors in the Caribbean.” International Journal of Tourism Research (July 2020). https://www.iza.org/de/publications/dp/13486/assessing-the-role-of-women-in-tourism-related-sectors-in-the-caribbean.

• This study evaluated the effects of women holding high management or ownership positions in the tourism industry in 13 Caribbean countries. The authors conclude that there are few opportunities for women in high-level positions at the most profitable companies. However, companies that have women in high-level positions employ more women and have more women in managerial positions.

U.S. Virgin Islands

Corley, Alaysia. “Investigating Cultural Sustainability and Identity by Analyzing my St. Thomian Family through Autoethnography.” MA thesis, Goucher College, 2020. https://mdsoar.org/handle/11603/19296.

• This MA capstone project consists of a written reflection and a documentary that is available on YouTube. In this project, Corley uses interviews with her family members to understand how St. Thomian culture has persisted, adapted, or been discontinued in her family over time. She concludes that her family has maintained many aspects of St. Thomian culture, specifically the emphasis on education, respect, and community. However other aspects of St. Thomian culture have not been continued, such as language, religion, and taking up a trade. She further explains that her family has maintained this degree of cultural sustainability because of their dedication to maintaining traditions and to documenting their family history.

Women’s Health

Joachim, Clarisse, Jacqueline Véronique-Baudin, Laure Desroziers, Édouard Chatignoux, Sophie Belliardo, Juliette Plenet, Jonathan Macni, et al. “Gynaecological cancer in Caribbean women: data from the French population-based cancer registries of Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana.” BMC Cancer 20, (July 2020):643. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186%2Fs12885-020-07128-1.

• This article presents “regional-level cancer incidence and world-standardized mortality rates for cancers for Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana.” This is the first time these rates have been calculated and published. The authors compared data from the Caribbean with data from mainland France and found differences in incidence and mortality rates. Specifically, in the Caribbean incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer were higher, incidence rates of breast cancer were lower but increasing, and rates of endometrial and ovarian cancer were similar. The authors suggest that the reasons for these differences could be because of different “ethno-geographic and socio-demographic characteristics.”

Nicolas, Guerda, G. Rita Dudley-Grant, Ashley Maxie-Moreman, Esprene Liddel-Quintyn, Jacqueline Baussan, Natacha Janac, and Monique McKenny. “Psychotherapy with Caribbean Women: Examples from USVI, Haiti, and Guyana.” Women & Therapy (July 2020). https://doi.org/10.1080/02703149.2020.1775993.

• This article is intended to assist feminist psychotherapists in working with Caribbean women. Feminist psychotherapy requires practitioners to be informed of the “cultural, social, political, and ecological context” of the people with whom they are working. (2) This paper, therefore, is intended to help provide that information about Caribbean women. The paper specifically focuses on Haiti, Guyana, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to demonstrate the similarities that exist throughout the Caribbean as well as to highlight diversity in experiences. Each section includes an overview of the region, an overview of the women in the region, and an explanation of mental health challenges and psychotherapy among women in the region.

Silva-Peñaherra, Michael, María Lopez-Ruiz, Pamela Merino-Salazar, Antonio Ramón Gómez-García, and Fernando G. Benavides. “Health inequity in workers of Latin America and the Caribbean.” International Journal for Equity in Health 19, (July 2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-020-01228-x.

• The purpose of this study was to determine health inequity levels in Latin American and Caribbean workers. The authors drew on data from national surveys and selected a sample of 180,163 respondents from 15 different countries. They examined how respondents reported self-perceived health, and evaluated age, education levels, and occupation type as potential causes of health inequity. The study concluded that there are indeed serious health inequities among workers in Latin America and the Caribbean. The major findings were that women generally report poor self-perceived health at higher rates than men, lower age and higher education both correspond with better self-perceived health, and that non-manual skilled laborers had the highest self-perceived health, while manual, non-skilled laborers had the lowest self-perceived health. The authors recommend governments and public health professionals use these findings to target specific groups to improve working conditions.

Mass Media

Limetree Bay

Carlson, Suzanne. “Bryan issues new restrictions on bars, beaches.” The Virgin Islands Daily News, July 3, 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/bryan-issues-new-restrictions-on-bars-beaches/article_f6ac261e-dacf-5f0d-be2b-38d872111a4d.html.

• At a recent press conference Governor Bryan announced additional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 including requiring some travelers to the USVI to be tested, encouraging everyone to wear a mask at all times in public, implementing a beach curfew for the July 4 holiday weekend, requiring that bars close at midnight, and prohibiting the sale of alcohol after 11pm. He also stated that Limetree Bay is now requiring contractors traveling to St. Croix to be tested before arrival.

Carlson, Suzanne. “Bryan orders bars to close after alarming rise in cases.” The Virgin Islands Daily News, July 10, 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/bryan-orders-bars-to-close-after-alarming-rise-in-cases/article_62834aad-3fb3-5e10-8fee-0d838e1b65dc.html/.

• After the COVID-19 positivity rate jumped to 14% one day, Governor Bryan announced increased restrictions including closing all bars, casinos, and gaming centers, prohibiting the sale of alcohol after 11pm, 4pm beach closures, and requiring travelers from states with 10% or higher positivity rates to be tested within five days before travel. He warned that if there is no significant reduction in cases the region could revert to the safer at home stage. On St. Croix, contractors at Limetree Bay are a significant source of cases. The company has implemented increased restrictions and safety measures including increased testing, not bringing in any contractors from outside of St. Croix, and requiring that residents of the Limetree Bay village isolate.

Carlson, Suzanne. “V.I. scrambling to put into effect new travel regs.” The Virgin Islands Daily News, July 17, 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/v-i-scrambling-to-put-into-effect-new-travel-regs/article_425b6ede-561d-5be2-9c2b-6ce5e651baf6.html.

• The USVI is struggling to implement and enforce COVID-19 travel restrictions. Tourists are reportedly confused about the requirements and enforcement is lax. Governor Bryan stated that the government is working on improving accessibility of information and enforcement. The article continues to describe the ongoing struggle to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in part because of the outbreaks at Limetree Bay.

“COVID-19 cases continue rapid rise.” The Virgin Islands Daily News, July 3, 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/local/covid-19-cases-continue-rapid-rise/article_65f761f9-fcd6-5228-a26e-535f4594b2c9.html.

• 13 additional people in the USVI recently tested positive for COVID-19. 11 of those cases were on St. Croix and two were on St. Thomas. New efforts to slow the spread include requiring Limetree Bay contractors to show a negative test before arrival on St. Croix and requiring visitors traveling from states with high case numbers to be tested before arrival. Governor Bryan also ordered that alcohol not be sold between 11pm-6am and that all bars close at midnight.

Gardner, James. “COVID Count Up to 217, Government Focuses on Limetree Outbreak.” The St. Croix Source, July 14, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/07/14/covid-count-up-to-217-government-focuses-on-limetree-outbreak/.

• The number of active COVID-19 cases on St. Croix has been increasing, most of which are among Limetree Bay workers. The government is trying to prevent those cases from spreading to other workers and to others on St. Croix. The governor said that since July 1st, 1,386/ 2,685 contractors have been tested and 69 have tested positive. 29 of those people live in the Limetree Bay village and 40 live outside the village. An additional 16 cases related to the refinery were also recently announced. The refinery has taken steps including increasing testing, not permitting new contractors, scanning employees’ temperatures upon entry, and contact tracing. Outside of the refinery, the government has also increased testing and is requiring travelers from states with high COVID-19 rates to provide a negative test taken within 5 days of arrival.

Garip, Patricia. “Caribbean finds PdV easier to evict than replace.” Argus Media, July 22, 2020. https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2125528-caribbean-finds-pdv-easier-to-evict-than-replace.

• PdV ran several facilities for the production and distribution of oil throughout the Caribbean, but the company was failing and many of their facilities closed. As of July, several governments are still struggling to replace PdV and make use of the existing infrastructure. These efforts have been further hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic. On St Croix specifically, the Hovensa refinery, which closed in 2012, was a project by both PdV and Hess. Efforts to re-open the refinery by Limetree Bay Ventures have been repeatedly delayed.

Gilbert, Ernice. “Bryan Keeps USVI Under ‘Open Doors’ Phase As Covid-19 Outbreak Spreads Through Limetree and Total Cases Surge to 217.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, July 14, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-coronavirus/virgin-islands-bryan-keeps-usvi-under-open-doors-phase-as-covid-19-outbreak-spreads-through-limetree-and-total-cases-surge-to-217.

• Governor Bryan gave a briefing on COVID-19 and discussed steps the government was taking and considering moving forward. He said the administration had considered another “Safer at Home” order, but decided against it, citing a need to consider economic concerns. Someone asked him about the possibility of strengthening the enforcement of restrictions on travelers to the USVI and he responded that “quarantining has to be a personal responsibility.” Regarding Limetree Bay, Governor Bryan said that while he had considered temporarily closing the refinery, the joint effort between the government and the refinery has been successful, the positivity rate has been about 4.9%, and the refinery has increased precautionary measures.

Gilbert, Ernice. “Bryan Shuts Down Bars, Extends List of Hot Spot States; Beaches to Close at 4pm on Weekends; Limetree Bay Commits to Test All Workers.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, July 9, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-coronavirus/virgin-islands-bryan-shuts-down-bars-extends-list-of-hot-spot-states-beaches-to-close-at-4pm-on-weekends-limetree-bay-commits-to-test-all-workers.

• To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Governor Bryan ordered all bars, gaming centers, and casinos to close, all beaches to close at 4pm on weekends and holidays, and prohibited the sale of alcohol after 11pm. Additionally, the list of states from which travelers must provide a negative test has expanded. Bryan also announced new safety protocols at Limetree Bay including testing all workers and testing workers and their families if the workers have recently left and returned to St. Croix. Bryan said that if the number of cases is not improving within one week the administration would implement a “Safer at Home” policy.

Gilbert, Ernice. “Governor Bryan to Announce Beach Curtailment, Early Closure of Bars and New Measures for Limetree Bay in Effort to Blunt Recent Coronavirus Surge.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, July 1, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-coronavirus/virgin-islands-governor-bryan-to-announce-beach-curtailment-early-closure-of-bars-and-new-measures-for-limetree-bay-in-effort-to-blunt-recent-coronavirus-surge.

• Governor Bryan announced that he would hold a press briefing outside of the previous COVID-19 briefing schedule to announce new restrictions including early closures of bars and beaches and increased safety measures at Limetree Bay.

Gilbert, Ernice. “Man Camp Residents Ordered Not to Leave Premises After 20 Limetree Bay Workers Test Positive For Covid-19.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, July 4, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-coronavirus/virgin-islands-refinery-man-camp-residents-ordered-not-to-leave-premises-after-20-limetree-bay-workers-test-positive-for-covid-19.

• After 20 Limetree Bay workers tested positive in one week and the positivity rate was over 14% on one day, Governor Bryan ordered the Limetree Bay village to be locked down. Residents are only permitted to leave the village to go to work. One worker and village resident informed the author that workers are not being tested enough and that they are being forced to pay for tests.

Griffith, Kia. “Bryan Says Covid-19 Restrictions Will Take Effect Next Monday; Temporary Hold on Off-Island Contractors Headed to Limetree Bay Announced.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, July 6, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-coronavirus/virgin-islands-bryan-says-covid-19-travel-restrictions-will-take-effect-next-monday-temporary-hold-on-off-island-contractors-headed-to-limetree-bay-announced.

• Governor Bryan announced that new travel restrictions for people coming from states with high positivity rates will go into effect on July 13. The new restrictions require that travelers prove they have tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of departure or that they have tested positive for antibodies. He noted that most of the travel-related cases have been in people returning home to the USVI, and asked that those returning home self-quarantine. Bryan also announced increased safety procedures at Limetree Bay, including the requirement that village residents isolate in the village and only leave for work.

“Jump in COVID-19 cases at Limetree Bay Prompts Safety Changes.” The St. Croix Source, July 9, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/07/09/jump-in-covid-19-cases-at-limetree-bay-prompts-safety-changes/.

• Limetree Bay announced an increase in COVID-19 cases, but did not specify how many new cases there were. The DOH reported 22 new cases in one day—the largest single-day increase. Limetree Bay announced new safety measures including requiring workers to wear face masks, restricting business travel, contact tracing, and the hiring of a paramedic.

“Jump in COVID-19 cases at Limetree Bay Prompts Safety Changes.” The St. Thomas Source, July 9, 2020. https://stthomassource.com/content/2020/07/09/jump-in-covid-19-cases-at-limetree-bay-prompts-safety-changes/.

• Limetree Bay announced an increase in COVID-19 cases, but did not specify how many new cases there were. The DOH reported 22 new cases in one day—the largest single-day increase. Limetree Bay announced new safety measures including requiring workers to wear face masks, restricting business travel, contact tracing, and the hiring of a paramedic.

“Limetree Bay Announces Increase In COVID-19 Cases, Continues to Strengthen Safety Protocols.” The St. Croix Source, July 6, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/07/06/limetree-bay-announces-increase-in-covid-19-cases-continues-to-strengthen-safety-protocols/.

• In this press release, Limetree Bay confirmed an increase in COVID-19 cases at the facility and affirmed the facility’s commitment to cooperating with the government to reduce the spread of COVID-19. All workers who have tested positive or who have symptoms are in quarantine and village residents are only permitted to leave for work. The release also claims that false information has been circulating about the facility’s response to COVID-19 and asserts that there is a designated area in the village for those in quarantine, that the facility pays for all testing for workers and families who may have come into contact with a person who is infected, and that all contractors who have come to St. Croix since April have been tested. Limetree Bay is continuing to follow protocols adopted in March and has also recently begun requiring all workers to wear masks and has ended travel among contractors.

“Limetree Bay announces new safety measures for returning contractors.” The Virgin Islands Daily News, July 4, 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/limetree-bay-announces-new-safety-measures-for-returning-contractors/article_e03462ff-34ac-5038-a70f-cb6b475b497e.html.

• Limetree Bay instituted additional protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Contractors traveling to St. Croix will be required to be tested prior to departure, quarantine for 72 hours upon arrival, and then be tested a second time. Limetree Bay has also implemented additional sanitization protocols and a mask requirement and is offering free testing to employees’ families.

“Limetree Bay Reports an Increase in COVID-19 at Plant.” The St. Croix Source, July 6, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/07/06/limetree-bay-announces-an-increase-in-covid-19-cases-at-plant/.

• This article reports on a Limetree Bay press release, cited above (“Limetree Bay Announces Increase In COVID-19 Cases, Continues to Strengthen Safety Protocols.”The St. Croix Source, July 6, 2020.) The article restates that there have been six new cases at Limetree Bay, 21 confirmed cases total, that residents of the village are required to isolate except for going to work, and that the facility is taking steps to reduce the spread.

“Limetree Bay Updates Safety Measures for Personnel Returning to the Territory.” The St. Croix Source, July 3, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/07/03/limetree-bay-updates-safety-measures-for-personnel-returning-to-the-territory/.

• This Limetree Bay press release announces that the company has implemented new procedures for contractors returning to St. Croix after traveling elsewhere. Contractors will be required to take a COVID-19 test before arrival, isolate for 72 hours, and then take a second test.

Rao, A.J. “Bryan addresses COVID-19 spike in Limetree Bay.” The Virgin Islands Daily News, July 14, 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/bryan-addresses-covid-19-spike-in-limetree-bay/article_6a0b88fb-2ed4-5cfa-9960-caf00bbdb4c8.html.

• Governor Bryan addressed the increasing cases on St. Croix, most of which were related to Limetree Bay. In the four days preceding the article’s publication, 46 people tested positive for COVID-19 and 41 of those cases could be linked to Limetree Bay. Limetree Bay has committed to additional safety protocols as a result of this outbreak, including increased testing and requiring employees to wear masks.

Rao, A.J. “Limetree contractors facing restrictions as cases spike.” The Virgin Islands Daily News, July 7, 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/limetree-contractors-facing-restrictions-as-cases-spike/article_11b4b1ff-c5a3-57f7-8df1-17a465429e4a.html.

• In the two weeks prior to publication, the number of COVID-19 cases increased by 35. To address this increase, Governor Bryan temporarily halted Limetree Bay contractors from entering St. Croix and announced that there would be increased restrictions on those entering or leaving the Limetree Bay village. Governor Bryan also announced that travelers from Florida, Texas, and Arizona will have to produce a negative test or positive antibodies test taken within 72 hours of departure for the USVI.

Shapiro, Nina. “Trouble In Paradise: Covid-19 Is Spiking In The Caribbean.” Forbes, July 23, 2020. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ninashapiro/2020/07/23/trouble-in-paradise-covid-19-is-spiking-in-the-caribbean/?sh=472d13a72d5f.

• Caribbean islands had, at first, avoided significant COVID-19 outbreaks, in part due to restricting cruises from visiting. Many islands also have restrictions on tourists arriving by plane, such as requiring positive antibody tests or negative COVID-19 tests taken within 72 hours before departure. Despite these precautions, COVID-19 cases are increasing on Caribbean islands. The most significant spike in cases has been on St. Croix, and this increase is linked to contractors coming from the U.S. mainland to St. Croix to work at Limetree Bay. As a result, the company has stopped bringing in new contractors from outside of St. Croix and those in company housing are “asked” to isolate in the company housing area. Another reason cases could be increasing is the number of people returning home from the U.S. mainland to St. Croix.

“6 People Test Positive For Covid-19 at Limetree Bay; Company Announces New Stringent Protocols.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, July 3, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-coronavirus/virgin-islands-6-persons-test-positive-for-covid-19-at-limetree-bay-company-announces-new-stringent-protocols-.

• Limetree Bay announced recently that six more workers tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, they have adopted additional safety measures including requiring all contractors arriving to St. Croix to be tested before departure for St. Croix, isolate for 72 hours upon arrival, and then be tested a second time. The company also increased testing and sanitization and is requiring all workers to wear masks. The article continues to list the protocols the company had in place before the recent spike and measures the company has adopted over time since the pandemic began.

“Territory Implements Testing Protocols for Travelers From Highly Impacted U.S. States.” The St. Croix Source, July 18, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/07/18/territory-implements-testing-protocols-for-travelers-from-highly-impacted-u-s-states/.

• This press release contains information about the plan for tourism during the pandemic. The USVI Commissioner of Tourism, Joseph Boschulte, said that his goal is to balance economic security with health and safety. He said that the increase in cases may look more severe than it really is because of the relatively low number of cases. He also said that the primary driver of new cases is not tourism, but contractors at Limetree Bay. Thus, tourism will continue, but tourists arriving from states with positivity rates of 10% or higher will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test that was taken within five days of departure or a positive antibody test. Other precautionary measures include temperature checks at ports and quarantine protocols.

“USVI Tourism Commissioner Urges Continued Vigilance in COVID-19 Battle.” South Florida Caribbean News, July 6, 2020. https://sflcn.com/usvi-tourism-commissioner-urges-continued-vigilance-in-covid-19-battle/.

• This article reports on USVI Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte’s reminder to those arriving in the USVI to adhere to the COVID-19-related guidelines and requirements. Boschulte explained that the government is considering additional restrictions on travelers originating in the U.S. mainland, but at the time of writing travelers were not required to be tested. The article also notes the increase in cases at Limetree Bay and explains the health and safety measures the refinery has taken, including regular temperature scans, requiring face masks, increased screening of contractors arriving on St. Croix, and the isolation of village residents.

August 2020

Academic Publications

Activism

Cumberbatch, Saamiya, Ronelle King, and Natalie McGuire-Batson. “Insurgents: Redefining Rebellion in Barbados.” Museum International 72, no. 1-2 (August 2020): 30-41. https://doi-org.ccl.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/13500775.2020.1743020.

• In this paper, the authors explain how a 2019 museum exhibition that they co-curated,Insurgents: Redefining Rebellion in Barbados, at the Barbados Museum & Historical Society has contributed to the museum field in Barbados and has centered women in the history of fighting for freedom. The exhibition presented the history of resistance in Barbados, from rebellions against enslavers to contemporary activism, with the particular goal of countering myths of Barbadian, especially Barbadian women’s, passivity. The exhibition was designed to be community-focused and participatory. Most of the artifacts were contributed by the activist community and visitors were encouraged on multiple occasions to interact with the content and contribute their own stories or ideas. The exhibition was also inclusive of learning and physical abilities. The authors argue that the exhibition’s content and methodology encourages visitors to reflect on the ways in which they can promote equality in Barbados and become “insurgents” themselves.

Wilson, Betty. “Literature and Activism, Literature as Activism.” Caribbean Quarterly 66, no. 3 (August 2020): 405-424. https://doi.org/10.1080/00086495.2020.1802873.

• In this paper, which was first presented in April 2017 as the William Mailer/Gabriel Coulthard Distinguished Lecture at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Wilson discusses how four francophone Caribbean women writers engaged in activism in addition to their writing or through their writing. The writers discussed are Marie Chauvet, Edwidge Danticat, Yanick Lahens, and Gisèle Pineau. Wilson notes that French literature is often politically influential and has influenced Caribbean literature. Additionally, postcolonial literature is frequently politically and socially engaged. The writers discussed here are similarly engaged, and write about difference and negative reactions to difference including fear, indifference, cruelty, and a sense of superiority. Quoting Mark Vonnegut, Wilson asserts that in writing about these issues, these authors “subvert…the notion that things have to be the way they are, that you are alone, that no one has ever felt the way you have.”

Development & Disaster Resiliency

Barios, Lina M., Alicia Prowse, and Valeria Ruiz Vargas. “Sustainable development and women’s leadership: A participatory exploration of capabilities in Columbian Caribbean fisher communities.” Journal of Cleaner Production 264, (August 2020). https://doi-org.ccl.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121277.

• Development in Columbia has progressed substantially through a focus on sustainable development, however the issue of gender inequality remains. Additionally, women’s leadership has been studied in “developed” and “developing” areas, but not in the context of sustainable development. The authors thus studied women’s leadership in fishing communities in the Dique Channel. They found that women leaders felt empowered in areas including leadership capabilities, sanitation, and natural resources and disempowered in areas including climate change, issues related to gender inequality, and access to education. They also found that women frequently struggled to conceptualize how their actions could create tangible, long-term benefits for themselves and their communities. The study concludes that to promote gender equality and sustainable development, women’s leadership in areas known to be empowering should be promoted and steps should be taken to improve issues identified as causing disempowerment.

Bender, Cori D. “Before the Storm: Water and Energy Utilities, Human Vulnerability and Disaster Risk.” PhD diss., University of South Florida, 2020. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/8162/.

• In this dissertation, Bender takes a political ecology approach to studying resilience and vulnerability to disasters and sustainable development on St. Thomas. She pays particular attention to who is involved in making decisions about development, risk mitigation, and post-disaster rebuilding and whose needs and perceptions decision makers take into account. She asserts that including more people and perspectives in the decision making process will allow for increased cooperation and better outcomes, and that St. Thomas is an ideal place to test this.

Yandle, Tracy, Jennifer Sweeney Tookes, and Cynthia A. Grace-McCaskey. “US Virgin Islands Fishing Community Resilience: Informing a Research Agenda.” Coastal Management 48, no. 5 (August 2020): 481-504. https://doi.org/10.1080/08920753.2020.1796191.

• The purpose of this study was to understand how major storms have affected fishers in the U.S.V.I., how they have responded to these storms, and what their perspectives are on storm relief. Through interviews with people in U.S.V.I. fishing communities, the authors studied the effects of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 and how fishers responded. The three key themes that emerged from the interviews were: that the size of fishing operations affect their resiliency, frustration with federal institutions and more appreciation for local institutions, and conflict between generations and groups of fishers.

Empire

Johnson, Jessica Marie. Wicked Flesh: Black Women, Intimacy, and Freedom in the Atlantic World. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2020.

• InWicked Flesh, Jessica Marie Johnson examines how Black women in the 18th-century Atlantic world negotiated and resisted French colonialism and slavery in the Americas, specifically focusing on how they used intimacy and kinship networks to achieve freedom. Johnson recounts the experiences of Black women in the 18th century in Senegal, through the Middle Passage, to the Caribbean and the Gulf Coast, with a specific focus on New Orleans. She argues that the relationships, intimacies, and kinship networks that these women developed to promote their freedom shaped their meaning of freedom.

Environmental Science

Bloomberg, Jeanne. “Reproductive effort of Montastraea cavernous across depth in the context of both climate change refugee and emergent disease.” MS thesis, Louisiana State University, 2020. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/5188/.

• Climate change has caused significant damage to coral reefs, and some have suggested that mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) could serve as coral refugia. This paper studies the possibility of one type of coral,Montastraea cavernosa, using MCEs in the U.S.V.I. as refuge from climate change and disease. The study found that U.S.V.I. MCEs are currently a refuge for Montastraea cavernosa and that weather events, such as Hurricanes Irma and Maria, have not affected these populations. However, the MCEs’ capacity to provide refuge from disease is still unknown.

Bowden, Jared H., Adam J. Terando, Vasu Misra, Adrienne Wootten, Amit Bhardwaj, Ryan Boyles, William Gould, Jaime A. Collazo, and Tanya L. Spero. “High-resolution dynamically downscaled rainfall and temperature projections for ecological life zones within Puerto Rico and for the U.S. Virgin Islands.” International Journal of Climatology (August 2020). https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.6810.

• This paper reports on meteorological projections for Puerto Rico and the U.S.V.I. The models suggest that there will be significant changes to the U.S.V.I. climate in the 2041-2060 time period. The authors project that the climate of the U.S.V.I. will be dryer, that the temperature extremes will be unprecedented, and that the temperatures will increase most significantly on the southern part of St. Croix and at high elevations on St. John and St. Thomas.

Chen, Yi-Hsiu, Kyle W. Shertzer, T. Shay Viehman. “Spatio-temporal dynamics of the threatened elkhorn coral Acropora palmata: Implications for conservation.” Diversity and Distributions 26, no. 11 (August 2020): 1582-1597. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13143.

• This paper reports on the development of a species distribution model for an endangered coral species located in the U.S.V.I. This particular model is novel because it accounts for population to a greater extent than most species distribution models. The purpose of such a model is to aid in conservation, particularly in the face of climate change. The model predicted that if the sea temperature rises, the coral species will occur in smaller, less frequent colonies. The authors conclude that the incorporation of population demography into the species distribution model provided additional information that will be important for conservation efforts.

Edmunds, Peter J., Matthew Covlentz, and Janie Wulff. “A quarter-century of variation in sponge abundance and community structure on shallow reefs in St. John, US Virgin Islands.” Marine Biology 167, no. 135 (August 2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-020-03740-8.

• This study evaluated the changes in sponge density on the St. John reef from 1992-2017. The authors concluded that, with some variation based on species, overall sponge density increased until July 2017. The increase was reversed when Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused a 54% decrease in overall sponge density. In November 2017 there was an overall density that was 31% lower than in 1992, with some species maintaining densities higher than 1992 and others significantly below 1992 densities.

Rogers, Christopher Rogers and Edwin Cruz-Rivera. “A New Eulimnadia (Branchiopoda: Spinicaudata: Limnadiidae) from the US Virgin Islands.” Zoological Studies 59, no. 42 (August 2020). http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/59/59-42.pdf.

• This paper reports on the identification of a new species of clam shrimp on St. Thomas. The authors also assert that clam shrimp identification and classification has been inaccurate for multiple reasons including incomplete data collection, unsupported claims by researchers, the inability to distinguish between adults of different species, and the need for specialized equipment to identify differences in the eggs.

Women’s Health

Gray, Anika, and Taitu Heron. “A Legislative Review of Restrictive Provisions Governing Women’s Access to abortion in the Eastern Caribbean.” SSRN (August 2020). https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3655822.

• This paper examines the laws restricting abortions in six Eastern Caribbean countries, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The authors argue that these countries’ restrictions on abortions violate not only women’s rights to healthcare and bodily autonomy, but also multiple international treaties that these countries have signed. The authors make numerous recommendations to increase access to abortion and to increase compliance with international standards and treaties. These recommendations include: removing legislation that would restrict why, when, and where a person can have an abortion, requiring no more than one doctor’s permission, and requiring providers who object to abortions to refer patients to another provider. Note: This paper was commissioned by three groups, the Equality & Justice Alliance, the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality, and the Women and Development Unit of the University of the West Indies Open Campus. It does not appear to be peer reviewed or published in a journal.

Hearld, Kristine R., Henna Budhwani, Macarena Martínez-Órdenes, Amber Altaf, Julia Hasbun, and John Waters. “Female Sex Workers’ Experiences of Violence and Substance Use on the Haitian, Dominican Republic Border.” Annals of Global Public Health 86, no. 1 (August 2020). http://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.2889.

• Female sex workers (FSWs) are socially and economically vulnerable, and being an immigrant can further increase their vulnerability. Further, Latin American and Caribbean women and girls who migrate alone are at an increased risk of experiencing physical abuse. The authors thus hypothesized that Haitian FSWs who migrate to the Dominican Republic are more likely to experience physical abuse than those who did not migrate. Their findings supported their theory. 80.3% of Haitian FSWs who migrated to the Dominican Republic reported physical abuse from a sex partner whereas 60% of Haitian FSWs who did not migrate reported physical abuse. The findings also show that there is a correlation between substance abuse and experiencing physical abuse. Citing the World Health Organization’s stance that health is a human right, the authors call for policies to reduce the vulnerability of FSWs.

Prüst, Zita D., Kim J. C. Verschueren, Greta A. A. Bhikha-Kori, Lachmi R. Kodan, Kitty W. M. Bloemenkamp, Joyce L. Browne, and Marcus J. Rijken. “Investigation of stillbirth causes in Suriname: application of the WHO ICD-PM tool to national-level hospital data.” Global Health Action 13, (August 2020). https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2020.1794105.

• The goal of this study was to address the high stillbirth rate in Suriname by determining the causes, risk indicators, and timing of stillbirths in order to create recommendations to reduce the stillbirth rate. The authors found that women of African descent were twice as likely to have a stillbirth than women not of African descent and that 85% of stillbirths occurred antepartum. The study also showed that the primary cause of stillbirth is hypertensive disorders, however in 39% of cases the cause is unknown. The authors recommend investigating and addressing ethnic disparities, improving antepartum health care, and implementing procedures to determine the causes of stillbirths when they occur.

Mass Media

COVID-19 in the U.S.V.I. (COVID-19 only—no references to Limetree Bay or refining)

Romero, Simon and Patricia Mazzei. “New Virus Hot Spots: U.S. Islands from Hawaii to Puerto Rico.” New York Times, August 25, 2020, updated September 2, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/25/us/coronavirus-guam-virgin-islands-hawaii-puerto-rico.html.

• This article reports on the spread of COVID-19 on U.S. islands. Initially U.S. islands avoided the spread that was affecting the U.S. mainland but, with the exception of American Samoa which has not had any documented cases, cases have recently increased. In the U.S.V.I., there were very few cases early in the pandemic, but now there have been almost 1,000 cases total. As a result, the government has banned tourists for a month, is checking the temperatures of everyone arriving by plane, conducting extensive and rapid testing, closing nonessential businesses, and implementing stay-at-home orders.

Abel, Jaison R., Jason Bram, Richard Deitz, and Jonathan Hastings. “Tracking the Spread of COVID-19 in the Region.” Liberty Street Economics, August 27, 2020. https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2020/08/tracking-the-spread-of-covid-19-in-the-region.html.

• In this article on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s (FRBNY) blog, the authors explain the development of a new tool (link) released by the FRBNY to track the spread of COVID-19 in the FRBNY’s second district, which includes the U.S.V.I. The chart shows that there were relatively few cases in the U.S.V.I. in comparison to the U.S. mainland until a spike in mid July followed by an ongoing rise in August. The information as of December 26, 2020 shows a significant decrease in cases in late August and early September, followed by another rise from mid November through mid December.

Limetree Bay (Limetree Bay only—no references to COVID-19)

“Limetree Responds to Overflow After Heavy Rains.” St. Croix Source, August 22, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/08/22/limetree-responds-to-overflow-after-heavy-rains/.

• In this press release, officials at Limetree Bay explain that the facility’s storm water pumps failed earlier that day. This caused a mixture of storm water and oil to flow into a containment pond, which is now creating odors, and a “light sheen” where the storm water flows into the harbor. Limetree and the NRC are working to contain and address the spill as quickly as possible.

“Storm-Water Handling Pump at Limetree Bay Fails, Causing Overflow Into Holding Pond, Odor.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, August 22, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-community_center/virgin-islands-storm-water-handling-pump-at-limetree-bay-fails-causing-overflow-into-holding-pond-odor.

• This article reports on the above press release regarding a storm water pump failure that caused oil to spill into a containment pond and into the harbor.

“Storm Causes Overflow at Limetree Bay, May Cause Sewer Problems.” St. Croix Source, August 24, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/08/24/storm-causes-overflow-at-limetree-bay-may-cause-sewer-problems/.

• This article reports on the above press release regarding a storm water pump failure that caused oil to spill into a containment pond and into the harbor. It continues to explain that the V.I. Waste Management Authority has said that the storm may also cause the sewer system to overflow. An update notes that a later Limetree Bay press release announced that they had recovered all of the spilled oil and that no oil passed the facility’s permanent boom.

Pate, J. Russell B. “Waiting decades for resolution through V.I. courts cannot be justice.” The Virgin Islands Daily News, August 27, 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/waiting-decades-for-resolution-through-v-i-courts-cannot-be-justice/article_44c7a61b-f07b-5fd3-8ab6-60ddef8203e0.html.

• In this letter to the editor, J. Russell B. Pate, Esq. argues that the delays in the U.S.V.I. court system are dangerous and hinder justice. The delays are primarily due to the two vacant judgeships in the U.S.V.I. Superior Court. Pate notes that there are cases that have been pending for almost 20 years, including a case about workers being exposed to asbestos at the HOVENSA refinery that has been pending for 18 years. He hopes that the transition to an electronic data system and Bryan’s nomination of two attorneys to the vacant judgeships may help address the backlog.

Limetree Bay AND COVID-19

Kelly, Stephanie and Laura Sanicola. “U.S. distillate demand recovery stalls with stocks at 38-year high.” Reuters, August 11, 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-distillates/u-s-distillate-demand-recovery-stalls-with-stocks-at-38-year-high-idUSKCN2572KV.

• The stock of fuel in the U.S. has reached the highest levels in almost 40 years because refiners have increased production while the travel and construction-related demand for fuel has significantly decreased as a result of COVID-19. The stock could increase even further because the Limetree Bay refinery is expected to reopen within a few weeks.

Carlson, Suzanne. “Bryan plan aims to refinance debt to bolster GERS.” The Virgin Islands Daily News, August 12, 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/bryan-plan-aims-to-refinance-debt-to-bolster-gers/article_5048732f-e109-5770-ac6b-243a346118f6.html.

• At a press conference, Governor Bryan announced plans to propose the Matching Fund Securitization Act to the Senate. In April, a District Court Judge ordered the U.S.V.I. government to pay more than $63 million to the Government Employees’ Retirement System (GERS). The GERS is at risk of serious financial issues due to an ongoing lack of employer contributions as well as the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This Act would refinance debt for the purpose of funding the GERS and addressing other financial issues. Bryan explained that the money gained from refinancing debt could provide significant funds that, in combination with the expected revenue from recreational marijuana sales and Limetree Bay, could fund the GERS and fund infrastructure improvements.

Blackburn, Elliott. “Limetree Refining confirms startup plans.” Argus Media, August 13, 2020. https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2132341-limetree-refining-confirms-startup-plans.

• The Limetree Bay refinery confirmed plans to restart the refinery soon. The restarting will occur in phases with some units starting within weeks and more starting in September. These start dates are later than initially anticipated, and were delayed because of issues with corrosion at the facility and precautions necessitated by COVID-19.

Rao, A.J. “Territory surpasses 1,000 COVID-19 cases.” The Virgin Islands Daily News, August 27, 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/territory-surpasses-1-000-covid-19-cases/article_369fef6a-d7b1-5616-ab8c-3913fbff7901.html.

• This article reports that the total number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Virgin Islands has surpassed 1,000, and that the number of COVID-19 related deaths has reached 14. The article notes that the initial main cause of spread in the U.S.V.I. was Limetree Bay contractors who had the virus and traveled to St. Croix from elsewhere. Though in the weeks prior to the article’s publication, St. Thomas has been the primary site of spread in the U.S.V.I.

Myers, Gay Nagle. “Opening, only to close: U.S.V.I. an example of the Caribbean’s struggles.” Travel Weekly, August 31, 2020. https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Insights/Opening-only-to-close-USVI.

• Other than an outbreak at Limetree Bay, COVID-19 cases in the U.S.V.I. remained relatively low early on in the pandemic. However, increasing cases prompted a shift in policy. In August, the U.S.V.I. banned tourists from entering the area for one month, from mid-August until mid-September. To address the economic effects, the government provided each resident with $250 for their electric bill and all school graduates with $1,000. The government has also announced investments in infrastructure and a program to address the medical personnel shortage by offering U.S. mainland medical professionals free one-week vacations in exchange for working if they are needed during their stay.

September 2020

Academic Publications

Empire

Jakobsen, Johnny Grandjean Gøgsig and Ivalu Kristine Lidsmoes. “Danish Colonial Toponomastics.” In Advances in Comparative Colonial Toponomastics, edited by Nataliya Levkovych, 187-218. Boston: De Gruyter, 2020.

• Scandinavian toponyms in Europe have been widely studied, but little work has been done on overseas Danish colonial toponyms, including in the Danish West Indies. This chapter begins with an overview of overseas Danish colonies and is concluded by an explanation of a proposed project to study Danish toponyms in the Danish West Indies and in Greenland.

Environmental Science

Engerman, Kimarie, Nisha Clavier, and Sharon Honore. “Perceptions and Awareness of Climate Change on Environmental Stewardship.” In Discourses on Sustainability, edited by E.V. Shabliy, D. Kurochkin, and M.J. Crawford, 79-90. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, 2020. https://link-springer-com.ccl.idm.oclc.org/book/10.1007%2F978-3-030-53121-8.

• The study described in this chapter evaluated St. Croix residents’ awareness of climate change and environmental stewardship practices. The authors used surveys to determine what environmental stewardship practices respondents participated in and where they lived. The study found that St. Croix residents were more likely than non-residents to avoid buying fast fashion. For other practices, such as researching food production and reducing meat consumption, the rate of participation was similar between residents and non-residents. The study also found that there was a correlation between residency and perceptions of what phenomena are caused by climate change.

Simnitt, Skyler, Lisa House, Sherry L. Larkin, Jennifer Sweeney Tookes, and Tracy Yandle. “Using Markets to Control Invasive Species: Lionfish in the US Virgin Islands.” Marine Resource Economics 35, no. 4 (September 2020). https://doi.org/10.1086/710254.

• Invasive lionfish are damaging reefs in the Gulf Coast and the Caribbean. The authors of this study suggest that cultivating an industry for the catch and sale of lionfish could mitigate damage to the ecosystem. To determine the feasibility of this proposal, the authors studied U.S.V.I. residents’ potential willingness to pay for and consume lionfish. The authors found that U.S.V.I. residents take food safety and environmental impact into consideration when evaluating their willingness to consume lionfish. They also found that residents’ willingness to pay for lionfish is similar to that of other similar fish. The authors thus conclude that the potential development of a commercial lionfish fishery warrants continued study.

Infrastructure 

Bengigi, Elad. “Efficiency and Resilience Trade-offs for Roadway Intersection Design in the U.S. Virgin Islands.” MS Thesis, Naval Postgraduate School, 2020. https://calhoun.nps.edu/handle/10945/66084.

• The hurricanes in September 2017 damaged U.S.V.I. infrastructure including traffic signals. This study evaluated the potential benefits of using roundabouts in intersections. Findings suggest that roundabouts may be the most useful type of intersection for the U.S.V.I. In normal conditions roundabouts are generally more efficient than traffic signals and stop signs, and in post-disaster conditions roundabouts are far more resilient than traffic signals, which are often rendered inoperable by severe storms.

Moeller, Brian T. “Synthetic Network Generation and Vulnerability Analysis of Internet Infrastructure Systems in the U.S. Virgin Islands.” MS Thesis, Naval Postgraduate School, 2020. https://calhoun.nps.edu/handle/10945/66112.

• The hurricanes in September 2017 damaged U.S.V.I. infrastructure including communications systems. In this study, the author looks for ways to improve communications systems on St. Croix to ensure residents have access to the internet after a disaster. The author developed a model of St. Croix internet infrastructure and demands and determined that the potential for fiber cuts is a key vulnerability. To ensure continued internet access after a disaster, the author recommends implementing “redundant physical fiber paths off-island” and adjusting the location of service providers.

Routley, Robert D. “An Operational Model of the Critical Supply Chain for St. Thomas and St. John.” MS Thesis, Naval Postgraduate School, 2020. https://calhoun.nps.edu/handle/10945/66134.

• This dissertation is intended to help with the existing efforts by FEMA, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S.V.I. government to improve the resilience of roads in case of a natural disaster. The author collected information about roads and the supply chain network to evaluate whether or not residents would be able to access supplies and return home within the post-disaster curfew window in different weather conditions. Findings show that in normal and flooded conditions residents would be able to access supplies within the curfew. In “worst-case conditions,” however, some residents of St. Thomas and St. John would not be able to access supplies in time to meet the curfew. Additionally, the port of St. John would be cut off, further damaging the supply chain.

Labor

Freire, Maíra Samara de Lima. “Peddling Sweets and Pioneering Territory: Black women and work in Colombia’s Caribbean Region.” Vibrant: Virtual Brazilian Anthropology 17, (September 2020). http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1809-43412020v17d501.

• In this article, Freire examines the experiences of Black women in San Basilio de Palenque in Colombia who work as sweets peddlers. She argues that women who sell sweets find satisfaction, dignity, independence, and identity in the work despite its dangers. Further, these women combat discrimination and marginalization through their hard work and their frequent presence in public.

Navarro, Tami. “‘EDC girls’ and women’s work: Race, gender and labor in the financial services sector in the US Virgin Islands.” Feminist Anthropology 1, no. 2 (September 2020): 165-175. https://doi.org/10.1002/fea2.12015.

• In this essay, Navarro examines the continuing influences of colonialism on gender and labor in the U.S.V.I., specifically in relation to the women who work in the Economic Development Commission (EDC) sector, or “EDC girls.” Many Crucians believe that the EDC program is“an attempt to return to the social order of the plantation system” because of how the program allows for wealthy white people to increase their wealth through the use of insufficiently compensated Black labor, because of the starkly uneven power dynamics, and because of the privileging of light-skinned, middle-class women for jobs in the EDC sector. Navarro argues that this common belief clearly demonstrates the lasting effects that colonialism has had on gender and labor in the U.S.V.I.

Oil Industry

Ramkissoon, Sanyah, David Alexander, Rean Maharaj, and Mohammad Souroush. “Evaluation of a low salinity water flooding with polymer gel treatment in Trinidad and Tobago.” Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology 10, (September 2020): 3971-3981. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13202-020-00991-5.

• The oil and gas industry in Trinidad and Tobago is one of the largest in the Caribbean and is a central element of the Trinidad and Tobago economy. However a number of factors have pointed toward the need to develop better enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods. Low salinity polymer flooding has been a useful method of EOR in some regions, but it is not yet known if that would be a feasible solution in Trinidad and Tobago. The EOR 33 wells in Southern Trinidad were evaluated to test this solution and the study indeed found the method to likely be feasible.

Race and Gender

Alexander, Simone A. James. “Reimagining the Nation: Gender and Bodily Transgressions in Breath, Eyes, Memory.” In Border Transgressions and Reconfigurations of Caribbean Space, edited by M. Moïse and F. Réno. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, 2020.

• In this chapter, Alexander studies the writing of two Caribbean women writers, Edwidge Danticat and Jamaica Kincaid to examine how these writers pushed back against the patriarchy and heteronormativity. The authors did this through the development of women protagonists who pushed against and challenged social and cultural norms including national boundaries, citizenship, women’s role in society, and the patriarchal, heteronormative state.

Dávila Ellis, Verónica. “Uttering Sonic Dominicanidad: Women and Queer Performers of Música Urbana.” PhD diss., Northwestern University, 2020. https://search.proquest.com/openview/022db2fc5b6a7fdc0c0e03d857a09411/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y.

• In this dissertation, Dávila Ellis studies how Dominican women and queer musicians ofmúsica urbana use musical and physical performances to negotiate hegemonic power, racism, misogyny, and discrimination based on sexual identity.

Prieto, Laura R. and Stephen R. Berry, eds. Crossings and Encounters: Race, Gender, and Sexuality in the Atlantic World. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2020.

• The essays in this volume look at race, gender, and sexuality in the Atlantic world from the 17th century to the present. The Atlantic was a site of contact between people of different races and cultures, which prompted those who participated in these interactions to reconsider and redefine their concepts of race, gender, sexuality, and their identities. Two essays in the volume focus on the Caribbean: “‘The Refuse of the whole creation’: Manhood, Misogyny, and Race in an Anglo-Caribbean Travel Narrative” by Erika Gasser and “‘Inhabitant of Saint-Domingue, today refugee in this place’: Atlantic Networks and the Contours of Migration among Free Women of Color during the Haitian Revolution” by Elizabeth Neidenbach.

Stephenson, Jaqueline H., Natalie Persadie, Ann Marie Bissessar, and Talia Esnard. Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion in Caribbean Organisations and Society: An Exploration of Work, Employment, Education, and the Law. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, 2020. https://link-springer-com.ccl.idm.oclc.org/book/10.1007%2F978-3-030-47614-4.

• This book examines equality and discrimination regarding race, gender, and sexual identity in the English-speaking Caribbean. Focusing primarily on former British Colonies, there is little attention paid to the U.S. Virgin Islands. However the analysis of gender equality and discrimination in other regions of the Caribbean could be useful.

Slavery

Hunt-Kennedy, Stefanie. Between Fitness and Death: Disability and Slavery in the Caribbean. Springfield: University of Illinois Press, 2020. https://www-jstor-org.ccl.idm.oclc.org/stable/10.5406/j.ctvz0hcpp.

• In this book, hunt-Kennedy examines the intersections between disability, anti-black racism, and slavery in the British slave trade argues that understanding disability is integral to understanding the development of British anti-Black racism and the British slave trade. She examines how British ablism was related to British racism and their participation in the slave trade; how slavery could be mentally and physically disabling; and how slave law was, through the denial of freedom and autonomy, a form of systematic disabling.

Women’s Health

Romero-Acosta, Kelly, Elena Marbán-Castro, Katy Arroyo-Alvis, Germán Arrieta, and Salim Mattar. “Perceptions and Emotional State of Mothers of Children with and without Microcephaly after the Zika Virus Epidemic in Rural Caribbean Columbia.” Behavioral Sciences 10, no. 10 (September 2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/bs10100147.

• This study examines the mental health of mothers in Caribbean Columbia who had children with microcephaly due to contracting the Zika virus during pregnancy. After interviewing mothers of children with and without microcephaly, the authors found that mothers of children with microcephaly had worse mental health. They also found that perceptions of the severity of microcephaly and insufficient knowledge about the condition were factors identified as contributing to poor mental health.

Zijlmans, Wilco, Jeffrey Wickliffe, Ashna Hindori-Mohangoo, Sigrid MacDonald-Ottevanger, Paul Ouboter, Gwendolyn Landburg, John Codrington, Jimmy Roosblad, Gaitree Baldewsingh, et al. “Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health (CCREOH) Cohort Study: influences of complex environmental exposures on maternal and child health in Suriname.” BMJ Open (September 2020). https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/9/e034702.citation-tools.

• This study evaluated the effects of environmental exposure on pregnant women and on birth outcomes in Suriname. The results show that 39.1% of pregnant women had hair mercury levels that exceeded international safety standards, 96% of pregnant women ate fish, and that the three most commonly consumed fish species have high mercury levels. The authors also found that 89% of pregnant women consumed tannia which can be contaminated with dangerous pesticides, and that according to the Edinburgh Depression Scale, 24.9% of pregnant women likely had depression.

Mass Media

Hess Oil

Leary, Paul. “Op:Ed: Who Is a Native Virgin Islander?” The St. Croix Source, September 23, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/09/23/op-ed-who-is-a-native-virgin-islander/.

• There is an ongoing discussion in the U.S.V.I. about who can be considered a native Virgin Islander and what rights or privileges are associated with that status. Paul Leary, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of the Virgin Islands, defines “Native Virgin Islander” as describing someone from “an indigenous population that can trace its roots at least to 1917, not simply someone who was born here.” Leary briefly explains some of the things that have caused significant migration in and out of the U.S.V.I., mostly caused by colonialism, which caused population changes. One example was the opening of Hess Oil Refinery in 1966 which prompted substantial migration of people from nearby islands who were looking for work. Because of these periods of migration in and out of the U.S.V.I., Leary asserts that the number of current U.S.V.I. residents who can trace their ancestry back to 1917 is low. He writes that giving native Virgin Islanders a privileged position in decolonization discussions and decisions would likely be unfeasible because it would be prohibitively difficult to determine who met the criteria, it would raise questions about exactly what rights native Virgin Islanders should have, other U.S.V.I. residents would feel unfairly excluded, and Congress would be unlikely to cooperate. Leary thus suggests that all Virgin Islanders look towards the future to meet the substantial challenges that they face such as climate change, a fragile economy, and issues related to tourism.

Limetree Bay

“Limetree Bay Terminals Awards Scholarships to V.I. Students.” The St. Croix Source, September 2, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/09/02/limetree-bay-terminals-awards-scholarships-to-v-i-students/.

• This press release announces that Limetree Bay has awarded 17 U.S.V.I. high school graduates with four-year college scholarships. The release lists the names of the recipients and where they will be attending college.

“Limetree Bay Awards Scholarships to 17 USVI 2020 Graduates.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, September 3, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-community_center/virgin-islands-limetree-bay-awards-scholarships-to-17-usvi-2020-graduates-.

• Limetree Bay announced that it has awarded 17 U.S.V.I. high school graduates with four-year college scholarships. The article includes the names of the recipients and where they will be attending college.

“Limetree Bay announces 2020 scholarship recipients.” The Virgin Islands Daily News, September 12, 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/limetree-bay-announces-2020-scholarship-recipients/article_20c0489a-83ef-56c7-bc58-07540dd1b9c0.html.

• Limetree Bay announced that it has awarded 17 U.S.V.I. high school graduates with four-year college scholarships. The article includes the names of the recipients and where they will be attending college.

Limetree Bay and COVID-19

Gilbert, Ernice. “Limetree Bay Says it ‘Firmly Stands Behind its Consistent and Transparent Reporting’ of Covid-19 Data After Accuracy Was Called Into Question by Health Commissioner.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, September 15, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-coronavirus/virgin-islands-limetree-bay-says-it-firmly-stands-behind-its-consistent-and-transparent-reporting-of-covid-19-data-after-accuracy-was-called-into-question-by-health-commissioner.

• After the V.I. Department of Health Commissioner questioned the accuracy of Limetree Bay’s COVID-19 case reporting due to discrepancies between the DOH data and Limetree Bay’s reports, Limetree Bay asserted that their reporting is accurate and that they appropriately informed the DOH of all cases.

“Limetree Bay Provides Clarification on COVID-19 Reports.” The St. Croix Source, September 15, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/09/15/limetree-bay-provides-clarification-on-covid-19-reports/.

• In this press release, Limetree Bay officials explain the facility’s COVID-19 testing and reporting procedures. The company asserts that its reporting has been and will continue to be transparent.

“Limetree Bay Provides Clarification on COVID-19 Reports.” The St. John Source, September 15, 2020. https://stjohnsource.com/2020/09/15/limetree-bay-provides-clarification-on-covid-19-reports/.

• In this press release, Limetree Bay officials explain the facility’s COVID-19 testing and reporting procedures. The company asserts that its reporting has been and will continue to be transparent.

Gilbert, Ernice. “Dept. of Health Had 4 Active Cases on St. Croix on Friday. Limetree Bay had 23. The Disparity, D.O.H. Says, is Strategy in Counting.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, September 14, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-coronavirus/virgin-islands-dept-of-health-had-4-active-cases-on-st-croix-on-friday-limetree-bay-had-23-the-disparity-d-o-h-says-is-strategy-in-counting-.

• There have been ongoing discrepancies between the COVID-19 data reported by the DOH and the data reported by Limetree Bay. At the time of publication, Limetree Bay’s most recent update showed 23 active cases while the DOH reported four active cases. When reporters asked for an explanation, the D.O.H. said that the discrepancies are because Limetree Bay reports the number of positive or negative tests, even if a single person was tested multiple times, whereas the DOH reports the number of people who have tested positive or negative. However this answer did not sufficiently explain the significant discrepancy.

Gilbert, Ernice. “Limetree Bay Suddenly Stops Providing Data Showing Number of Active Covid-19 Cases Recorded at Facility.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, September 24, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-coronavirus/virgin-islands-limetree-bay-suddenly-stops-providing-data-showing-number-active-covid-19-cases-recorded-at-facility-.

• Recently, there have been discrepancies between the COVID-19 data reported by the DOH and the data reported by Limetree Bay. Initially the DOH explained that any discrepancies were because Limetree Bay reports the number of positive or negative tests, even if a single person was tested multiple times, whereas the DOH reports the number of people who have tested negative or positive. Then, on September 14, Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion asserted that the DOH data was the most accurate and up-to-date information available, and asked Limetree Bay to state that on their website. Limetree Bay published a press release asserting that their reporting has been and would continue to be accurate and transparent. Since the press release was published, however, Limetree Bay has not reported information on cases at the facility. It is therefore unclear how many cases there are at the facility.

Tobben, Sheela. “Long-Idled Caribbean Refinery Springs to Life Amid Pandemic.” Bloomberg, September 29, 2020. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-28/long-idled-caribbean-refinery-springs-to-life-amid-pandemic.

• The former Hovensa refinery, after being shuttered in 2012 due to a decrease in demand and an increase in competition, has restarted operations. The refinery, now owned by Limetree Bay Holdings, has started one crude distillation unit and will start additional units once the first is stabilized. The refinery’s re-launch has raised questions about the future of demands for petroleum, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The facility’s substantial storage capacity will be useful to navigate fluctuating demand.

October 2020

Academic Publications

Economics

Mahon, Robin, Patrick McConney, and Hazel A. Oxenford. The Caribbean Blue Economy. New York: Routledge, 2021. (Published October, 2020, copyright 2021)

• The Blue Economyis centered on the idea that an emphasis on ocean-based economic activities is a useful method for sustainable development. Focusing on the Caribbean, the book begins by examining existing and planned ocean-based economic activities in the region. The second part focuses on factors that could affect a “Blue Economy,” such as climate change and government actions. The third part focuses on the main elements of an ocean-based economy including oil and gas, tourism, and fishing. The final section presents the challenges that will need to be met in order to implement this ocean-based economy. The chapter “Is there a future for the oil and gas sector within the Caribbean’s Blue Economy?” by Anthony T. Bryan will likely be the most relevant. In this chapter, Bryan discusses the centrality of oil and gas to many Caribbean countries’ economies and how this sector must be taken into careful consideration in planning to implement an ocean-based economy.

Empire

Bojsen, Heidi, Nikoline Ladefoged Birk, and Nynne Greve Lysgaard. “Systemic Colonial Aphasia and Civic Education in Denmark and St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.” Kult 16, (October 2020): 31-52. http://postkolonial.dk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2-Bojsen-Ladefoged-Lysgaard-final.pdf.

• This study sought to determine how high school students in Denmark and St. Croix perceived their education in colonial history. The study found that Crucian students were more likely than Danish students to consider colonial history relevant and to be able to identify how current issues are connected to colonialism than Danish students. Further, the results indicate that Danish students’ perceptions and knowledge may be influenced by “systemic colonial aphasia,” as evidenced by the common nostalgic view of colonialism, the lack of education on colonialism, and the privileging of an economic and geopolitical lens over a humanistic lens if colonialism is taught. The authors conclude with suggestions for addressing colonial aphasia through de-centering Denmark in the curriculum.

Hall, Catherine. “The Slavery Business and the Making of “Race” in Britain and the Caribbean.” Current Anthropology 61, no. S22 (October 2020). https://doi.org/10.1086/709845.

• In this article, Catherine Hall uses data from the Legacies of British Slave-Ownership project, a project intended to counteract historical amnesia about slavery, to look at how enslavers “contributed to “race-making” in both metropole and colony.” She first discusses the project and its work on the documents regarding compensation for enslavers after emancipation, and then looks at the Long family, an extremely wealthy dynastic white family who owned plantations and enslaved people in Jamaica, to show how they engaged in “race-making.”

Odumosu, Temi. “The Crying Child: On Colonial Archives, Digitization, and Ethics of Care in the Cultural Commons.” Current Anthropology 61, no. S22 (October 2020). https://doi.org/10.1086/710062.

• Centering an image that depicts a crying Afro-Caribbean Crucian child, this article looks at the ethical considerations of digitally displaying images of enslaved and colonized peoples. Odumosu questions how repositories are considering their responsibilities to the objects in their collections that are related to atrocities and the people against whom those atrocities were committed. As collection, preservation, and exhibition methods have changed, specifically the rise of digitization, so the ethical considerations for these objects have changed. Odumosu proposes using metadata to provide viewers with information that encourages viewing objects with broad historic context so that an image can not be separated from its history. This could be a more ethical method of digitization as it could tell people’s stories more thoroughly, clearly name crimes that occurred, and prompt viewers to consider what they ought to do with the information they have acquired. (I accidentally listed this in the September publications document)

Environmental Science 

Becker, Cynthia C., Laura Weber, Justin J. Suca, Joel K. Llopiz, T. Aran Mooney, and Amy Apprill. “Microbial and nutrient dynamics in mangrove, reef, and seagrass waters over tidal and diurnal time scales.” Aquatic Microbial Ecology85, (October 2020): 101-119. https://doi.org/10.3354/ame01944.

• This study evaluated how tidal and diurnal cycles can affect coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves. The authors found that coral reefs and seagrass meadow environments remained mostly consistent throughout the tidal and diurnal cycles, though there were shifts in bacteria concentrations that may have related to daytime conditions. Tidal and diurnal cycles affected mangrove environments the most, and the authors found that the tidal cycle affected populations and structures of organisms, microorganisms, and microbes.

Matley, J.K., J. Jossart, L. Johansen, and P.D. Jobsis. “Environmental drivers of diving behavior and space-use of juvenile endangered Caribbean hawksbill sea turtles identified using acoustic telemetry.” Marine Ecological Progress Series 652, (October 2020): 157-171. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13466.

• In this study, the authors used acoustic telemetry to track 17 juvenile hawksbill sea turtles in Brewers Bay, U.S.V. I. between August 2015-May 2018 to evaluate space-use and how different factors could affect space-use. The authors found that the turtles used space differently during different parts of the day and that water temperature affected dive duration and rates of movement. They conclude that climate change poses a serious threat to this already critically endangered species.

Novak, Ashleigh J., Sarah L. Becker, John T. Finn, Clayton G. Pollock, Sandy Hillis-Starr, and Adrian Jordaan. “Scale of Biotelemetry Data Influences Ecological Interpretations of Space and Habitat Use in Yellowtail Snapper.” Marine and Coastal Fisheries 12, no. 5 (October 2020): 364-377. https://doi.org/10.1002/mcf2.10119.

• This study collected information on Yellowtail Snapper movements in Buck Island Reef National Monument using broad-scale acoustic telemetry arrays and acoustic positioning systems in order to determine the benefits of acoustic positioning systems. The authors concluded that they were able to collect information about fish movement and habitats using acoustic positioning systems that the more common broad-scale system did not reveal. Thus, the authors conclude that using both systems is useful in studying coral reefs and that researchers should be critical of data collected using solely the broad-scale system.

Suca, Justin J., Ashlee Lillis, Ian T. Jones, Maxwell B. Kaplan, Andrew R. Solow, Alexis D. Earl, Sennai Habtes, Amy Apprill, Joel K. Llopiz, and T. Aran Mooney. “Variable and spatially explicit response of fish larvae to the playback of local continuous reef soundscapes.” Marine Ecology Progress Series 653, (October 2020): 131-151. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13480.

• This study evaluated the effectiveness of using reef soundscapes to affect fish recruitment to reef systems. Based on their experiments in St. John, the authors determined that while soundscapes can have some influence on the movement of some reef fish, the effects are limited and there are numerous other factors that also influence movement and settlement.

Labor

Nelson, Robin G. “Beyond the Household: Caribbean Families and Biocultural Models of Alloparenting.” Annual Review of Anthropology 49, (October 2020): 355-372. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-anthro-102218-011140.

• Alloparenting has been widely studied in small communities where people generally remain in the area. These studies and associated models, however, do not adequately take into consideration situations where parents struggle to find work near their families, such as in the Caribbean. Through an explanation of familial and labor dynamics in the Caribbean, Nelson shows both that the concept of the independent, nuclear family is not widely applicable, and that concepts and models of alloparenting are inadequate in studying many groups of people, transnational families in particular. Nelson further asserts that the alloparenting methods that Caribbean families have developed demonstrate how humans have adapted for survival.

Roopnarine, Lomarsh. “Contract labor migration as an agent of revolutionary change in the Danish West Indies.” Labor History 61, no. 5-6 (October 2020): 692-705. https://doi.org/10.1080/0023656X.2020.1830955.

• In this article, Roopnarine examines how contract labor migration affected working conditions and colonial rule in the Danish West Indies. In the post-emancipation period, people migrated from eastern Caribbean islands to the Danish West Indies for labor contracts. There, the planter class sought to maintain as many aspects of slavery as possible, including control over laborers. Laborers, however, wanted good working and living conditions, fair contracts, and to maintain their freedom. Migrant and native-born laborers together challenged restrictions and poor conditions which culminated in the Fireburn riots. Through these protests, Roopnarine asserts, migrant laborers both contributed to the laboring class’s achievement of better working conditions and to the ultimate decline of Danish rule in the Caribbean.

Slavery

Ball, Erica L., Tatiana Seijas, and Terri L. Snyder, eds. As If She Were Free: A Collective Biography of Women and Emancipation in the Americas. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2020.

• This edited volume seeks to present the history of Black women’s work towards freedom in the Americas. Each chapter centers different individual women to show how they claimed freedom. The volume as a whole, therefore shines a light on different methods of claiming freedom, different meanings of freedom, and the different gradations of freedom. The chapters that may be relevant include “Hannah Manena McKenney, Late Seventeenth- and Early Eighteenth-Century Bermuda and New Providence (Bahamas)” by Heather Miyano Kopelson, “Bessy Chambers, Nineteenth-Century Jamaica” by Sasha Turner, “Cécile Fatiman and Petra Carabalí, Late Eighteenth-Century Haiti and Mid-Nineteenth-Century Cuba” by Aisha K. Finch, and “Lumina Sophie, Nineteenth-Century Martinique” by Jacqueline Conti.

Women’s Health

Jolly, Jallicia. “Ill Erotics: The Cultural Geography of Sexuality, Illness, & Self-Making Among HIV-Positive Young Women in Jamaica.” PhD diss., University of Michigan, 2020. https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/163140?show=full.

• In this dissertation, Jolly studies HIV+ young women in Jamaica to understand how they navigate the politics of caring for their health and their identity creation. She argues that “the intersectional subject positions of young, HIV-positive Black women shape a novel politics of care that evolves a unique practice that enables women” to counter various overlapping sources and forms of oppression and to assert their autonomy and identity.

Marbán-Castro, Elena, Germán J. Arrieta, Miguel J. Martinez, Raquel González, Azucena Bardaji, Clara Menéndez, and Salim Mattar. “High Seroprevalence of Antibodies against Arboviruses among Pregnant Women in Rural Caribbean Colombia in the Context of the Zika Virus Epidemic.” Antibodies 9, no. 4 (October 2020): 56. https://doi.org/10.3390/antib9040056.

• This study aimed to determine how many pregnant women in Cereté, Columbia have contracted arboviral infections. All women in the study showed antibodies for dengue, 89% had antibodies for Zika, and 82% had antibodies for chikungunya. The authors thus show that pregnant women in this area are at high risk of exposure to these diseases and conclude that, because of the potential risks of these diseases on pregnancy outcomes, there should be significant attention paid to monitoring these diseases.

Mass Media

Limetree Bay

Cobb, Sian. “Bryan, Roach Talk Pandemic Challenges, Successes on Press Box.” The St. Croix Source, October 9, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/10/09/bryan-roach-talk-pandemic-challenges-successes-on-press-box/.

• In a weekly virtual town hall meeting, Governor Bryan and Lieutenant Governor Roach spoke about their pandemic challenges and successes. Brian explained that he worked to keep Limetree Bay open despite the refinery being the center of an outbreak because of the number of people that the facility employs and because they could continue collecting income taxes and taxes from the facility.

“Where the Senate Candidates Stand: Kurt Vialet.” The St. Croix Source, October 14, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/10/14/where-the-senate-candidates-stand-kurt-vialet/.

• The St. Croix Sourceposed a set of questions to each senate candidate. In response to a question about addressing climate change, candidate Kurt Vialet stated that, among other things, he would budget for the staff and equipment needed to monitor emissions at Limetree Bay.

Sanicola, Laura. “Exclusive: BP may cut oil supply to Caribbean refinery if it stays idle – sources.” Reuters, October 15, 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-refinery-limetree-bay-startup/exclusive-bp-may-cut-oil-supply-to-caribbean-refinery-if-it-stays-idle-sources-idUSL1N2H503Q?edition-redirect=uk.

• Citing two sources,Reuters reports that BP might stop supplying crude oil to Limetree Bay if the refinery is not operating by December. When BP contracted with Limetree Bay, they expected a 2019 start date, but various issues have caused a delay of almost a year. BP can cancel the contract if Limetree Bay does not meet a certain production level by the end of 2020.

Gilbert, Ernice. “Future of Limetree Bay Refining in Question as BP Mulls Pulling out of Deal, Says Reuters Report.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, October 16, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-business/virgin-islands-future-of-limetree-bay-in-question-as-bp-mulls-pulling-out-of-deal-says-reuters-report-.

• According toReuters, BP is considering canceling its contract with Limetree Bay to supply the refinery with crude oil unless the refinery begins operations by December. BP invested in the refinery with the expectation that it would begin operations in late 2019 or early 2020, but the refinery has seen numerous delays.

Kossler, Bill. “Limetree Might Lose BP Oil Supply If Not Running By December.” The St. Croix Source, October 16, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/10/16/limetree-might-lose-bp-oil-supply-if-not-running-by-december/.

• According toReuters, BP may stop supplying oil to the Limetree Bay refinery if it does not begin operations by December. Per a November 2018 contract, BP is the refinery’s exclusive source and buyer of crude oil and refined oil respectively. However, Limetree Bay has seen numerous setbacks and is, at the time of this article, almost a year past schedule.

“Limetree Bay to be Recognized for 2019 Safety Performance.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, October 16, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-community_center/virgin-islands-limetree-bay-to-be-recognized-for-2019-safety-performance-.

• Limetree Bay will be awarded a Safety Achievement Award from American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers for meeting the organization’s safety requirements. The award will be presented in a virtual ceremony on October 21.

“Limetree Bay Refining recognized for 2019 safety performance.” The Virgin Islands Daily News, October 26, 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/business/limetree-bay-refining-recognized-for-2019-safety-performance/article_cbb2a93d-666d-5905-a9ca-2b97accdaf8f.html.

• Limetree Bay won a Safety Achievement Award from the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers for meeting the organization’s safety requirements.

“Limetree Announces Jeffrey Rinker as New CEO; Brian Lever Retires.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, October 30, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-business/virgin-islands-limetree-replaces-ceo-following-reports-of-potential-pullout-from-partner-bp.

• Limetree Bay announced that CEO Brian Lever will be replaced by Jeffrey Rinker, previously at Huskey Energy. Rinker will start on November 11 and Lever will remain with the company until the end of November. This change in leadership is coming shortly afterReuters’ report that BP could cancel their contract with Limetree Bay.

Sanicola, Laura. “Limetree Bay CEO to step down, Husky’s Rinker will replace.” Reuters, October 30, 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/energy-refinery-limetreebay-ceo-idUSL1N2HL2BZ.

• Limetree Bay CEO Brian Lever will step down at the end of November and will be replaced by Jeffrey Rinker, previously of BP and Husky Energy Inc. R. Blair Thomas, the Limetree Bay board chair and EIG CEO released a statement about the leadership change stating that Lever and the board agreed that it was time to transition to a “long-term CEO” now that the refinery was close to restarting.

Oil Refining in the Caribbean

Slav, Irina. “Exxon Moves Ahead With Major Guyana Oil Field.” Oilprice.com, October 1, 2020. https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Exxon-Moves-Ahead-With-Major-Guyana-Oil-Field.html.

• Exxon made a final decision to proceed with a development project in the Payara oil field in Guyana. This will be Exxon’s third project in offshore Guyana.

Charles, Jacqueline. “An idle Venezuelan tanker with millions of gallons of oil is creating panic in Trinidad.” Miami Herald, October 22, 2020. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article246561723.html.

• In early 2019 the Nabarima, a Venezuelan oil tanker operated by the Petrosucre company, was abandoned off the northern coast of Venezuela. The abandoned ship has fallen into disrepair and is at risk of spilling its almost 55 million gallon load into the ocean. Although the ship is in Venezuelan waters, it is near Trinidad and Tobago, whose government is concerned about the environmental damage that would occur if the ship were to capsize and is frustrated with the Venezuelan government’s lack of urgency and transparency in addressing the potential disaster. Government officials therefore pushed for the chance to send inspectors to the ship to evaluate the situation, and inspectors were scheduled to go to the ship the day after this article’s publication.

November 2020

Academic Publications

Activism

Klien-Thomas, Hanna. “#LeaveSheAlone: Feminist hashtag activism and Carnival popular culture in the Caribbean.” Participations Journal of Audience & Reception Studies 17, no. 2 (November 2020). https://www.participations.org/Volume%2017/Issue%202/17.pdf.

• In 2017 a Jamaican social media campaign using the hashtags #LeaveMeAlone and #LeaveSheAlone, was launched. The hashtags were drawn from the song “Leave Me Alone” by Calypso Rose. The campaign was intended to oppose violence against women by providing a public space for women to share their experiences. Klien-Thomas examines this social media campaign in the context of other trends and cultural elements including feminism, hashtag activism, celebrity involvement in activism, and Carnival. She argues that while the hashtags were originally intended to create a space for women to share their experiences, the “visual aspects and visual performativity tied to the Carnival space became foregrounded,” and that this emphasis on visual elements corresponds with the ways that people who use these hashtags prefer to use social media. She further argues that the emphasis on visual performativity is based on resistance to women’s bodies being objectified and instead reclaiming bodies as a source of agency.

Lindsay, Keisha. “Amy Bailey, Black Ladyhood, and 1950s Jamaica.” Small Axe 24, no. 3 (November 2020): 128-142. https://doi.org/10.1215/07990537-8749818.

• In this paper, Lindsay examines Amy Bailey and the Housecraft Training Centre (HTC) in Jamaica. Bailey co-founded the HTC as a way to instruct Black women in the domestic sciences, as she believed that this education would help racially empower Black working-class women and elevate them to the status of ladyship. Lindsey argues that Bailey’s vision of ladyship was based on “elitist, patriarchal narratives at work in 1950s Jamaica,” and therefore, that she simultaneously furthered and hindered progress towards prosperity and equality in Jamaica. She further argues, though, that “it is neither feasible nor desirable to cast Bailey’s vision of black ladyhood as elitist or radical.” Rather, it is critical to fully consider Bailey’s goals, methods, and motivation in conjunction within the context of the time and place, which was shaped by strong colonial, patriarchal, racist, and elitist forces which she and those she sought to help were forced to negotiate.

McFee, Rochelle. “On Tambourines, Hashtags, and Rerooting/Rerouting Survivor Voice in Caribbean Feminist Movement Building.” In The Routledge Handbook of the Politics of the #MeToo Movement, edited by Giti Chandra and Irma Erlingsdóttir. New York: Routledge, 2020.

• This edited volume is intended to provide information on the #MeToo Movement around the world and to describe local contexts on pre-existing social movements. Chapter 11, “On Tambourines, Hashtags, and Rerooting/Rerouting Survivor Voice in Caribbean Feminist Movement Building” by Rochelle McFee may be the most relevant chapter in this volume. McFee describes the history of two Caribbean social media-based movements, #LifeInLeggings and #SayTheirNames, which began before #MeToo, and shows how these movements have interacted with colonial powers.

Robinson, Tracy. “Mass Weddings in Jamaica and the Production of Academic Folk Knowledge.” Small Axe 24, no. 3 (November 2020): 65-80. https://doi.org/10.1215/07990537-8749782.

• In this paper, Robinson looks at mass weddings in Jamaica that took place in the 1940s and 1950s and shows that serious academic misconceptions developed around these events. She explains the nuanced history of mass weddings and how they were initiated and promoted by Black women, particularly the members of the Women’s Liberal Club and its president, Morris Knibb. The goal of these women was to legitimize relationships, reduce the number of children born to unmarried parents, and to provide an elevated status and increased security to working-class Black women. She then shows how academic knowledge on the topic is based on inaccurate and misleading accounts. She writes that most academic work on mass weddings in Jamaica is based on anthropologist M.G. Smith’s account which“has ascended to folk knowledge—an oft repeated and a rarely questioned tale.” This account, however, has many errors, was not sufficiently researched, and presents a misconstrued history. For example, he wrote that the mass weddings were initiated and promoted by Lady Molly Huggins, a white woman who was married to the governor, for the purpose of reducing “promiscuity.” Robinson argues that this account, therefore, effectively erased the work, motives, and agency of the Black women who had been working on this campaign for five years before Lady Huggins got involved. This narrative also portrayed these Black women as having ignorantly followed along with a colonial plan that led to the marginalization of Black men, which gave credence to the argument that Black Caribbean male nationalists ought to be in control of the country’s direction.

Disaster Response

Lane, James, Shaquanah Robinson, Alyncia Bowen, Denise Rattigan, and Belinda Mose. “Post-Hurricane Schooling in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and an Adapted Hierarchy of Needs.” Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice 20, no. 8 (November 2020). https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v20i8.3228.

• There is a significant amount of information about the economic effects and the physical damage in Puerto Rico and the U.S.V.I. caused by the 2017 hurricanes, but relatively little information about the effects on the education system beyond physical damage. Therefore, in this study, the authors sought to understand the experiences of students and teachers in the aftermath of the hurricanes. There were six participants, two in Puerto Rico and four in St. Croix. The authors developed an adapted version of Maslow’s concept of a hierarchy of needs that describes the experiences and needs of educators and students in the aftermath of the hurricanes. The tiers are as follows, in order from tier one to tier five: “Turbulence, Destruction, and Physiological Needs,” “Psychological and Safety Needs,” “Resilience,” “Care, Love, Community, and Belonging,” and “Esteem, Self-Respect, and Freedom.”

Nair, Vidya, Erin Mullen, David Townes, and Stephen C. Morris. “The Emergency Prescription Assistance Program’s (EPAP): Providing continuing chronic health care for Hurricane Maria survivors from USVI.” International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 50, (November 2020). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420919317480.

• This study evaluated the effects of the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) in the U.S.V.I. in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. The program was instituted in 2008 after Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, and is intended to ensure continuity of care for those that need maintenance medication for chronic conditions and who do not have insurance to cover medications. The authors found that the most commonly filled prescriptions fell into three categories: antibiotics, medication for hypertension, and medication for diabetes. Further, the program ensured continuity of care for the 2,254 people who filed claims, however the authors note that this number is likely only a small portion of those who qualified and who needed maintenance medications. Based on the average cost of the medications provided through EPAP and the estimated amount of money saved by preventing program participants from needing hospital care, EPAP is a relatively low-cost and high-reward program. The authors thus conclude that EPAP is a critical element of disaster preparation and recovery.

Empire

Gounder, Farzana, Kalpana Hiralal, Amba Pande, and Maurits S. Hassankhan, eds. Women, Gender and the Legacy of Slavery and Indenture. New York: Routledge, 2020.

• This edited volume focuses on the experiences and perspectives of migrant enslaved and indentured women, with a primary focus on women from Asia and Africa. Whereas many archives and studies of colonialism and its effects are created from the hegemonic colonial perspective, this volume seeks to reframe studies of colonialism to center the experiences and perspectives of colonized peoples, specifically indentured and enslaved women. The final chapter, “Marriage, Concubinage and Extramarital Relations in Suriname and the Caribbean: Continuity and Change” by Julia Terborg may be the most relevant.

Joseph, Michael. “Black Women, Separation Allowances and Citizenship in the French Caribbean during the First World War.” French History 69, (November 2020). https://doi.org/10.1093/fh/craa069.

• In this article, Joseph looks at separation allowances provided to women in Martinique and Guadeloupe during WWI and shows how the implementation of these allowances was done through an imperialist, racist, and sexist lens. He argues three points: that these allowances were used in Martinique and Guadeloupe as a tool of empire to push Black women into wage labor, that republican universalism simultaneously facilitated extending allowances to the French Antilles and Black women’s exclusion from receiving allowances, and that some Black women resisted this exclusion.

Thomson, Ryan and Tameka Samuels-Jones. “Toxic Colonialism in the Territorial Isles: A Geospatial Analysis of Environmental Crime Across U.S. Territorial Islands 2013-2017.” International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology (November 2020): 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0306624X20975161.

• The goal of this study was to determine where in the unincorporated U.S. the most EPA violations occurred. The authors take a criminological approach and argue that environmental crime in the U.S. territories has been largely overlooked by the field of criminology. Findings show that in the 2013-2017 period, the U.S.V.I., as well as Puerto Rico, Guam, the Mariana Islands, and American Samoa were the sites of disproportionate amounts of environmental crimes. In the U.S.V.I. the violations are mostly water related violations perpetrated by the tourism industry.

Environmental Science

Edmunds, Peter J. “High ecological resilience of the sea fan Gorgonia ventalina during two severe hurricanes.” Aquatic Biology 8, (November 2020). https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10315.

• Octocoral populations in Caribbean reefs have been increasing over the past 20 years, and in this paper, Edmunds reports on studyingGorgonia ventalina, a species of octocoral, in the coral reefs of St. John between 2013-2019. He found that the population is increasing and that the 2017 hurricanes had relatively little effect on the population other than slowed growth after the hurricanes. Thus, he concludes that this species of octocoral is particularly resilient and that octocorals are likely to maintain a large presence in Caribbean reefs.

Stone, Nathan E., Carina M. Hall, A. Springer Browne, Jason W. Sahl, Shelby M. Hutton, Ella Santana-Propper, Kimberly R. Celona, Irene Guendel, et al. “Burkholderia pseudomallei in Soil, US Virgin Islands, 2019.” Emerging Infections Diseases 26, no. 11 (November 2020). https://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2611.191577.

• After the 2017 hurricanes, three people in the U.S.V.I. became ill with melioidosis, an illness caused by the soil-dwelling bacteriaBurkholderia pseudomallei. This study sought to determine if the bacteria was established in the U.S.V.I. The authors found that the isolates found in patients with melioidosis did not match the isolate found in the soil in the U.S.V.I. Instead, the isolates found in patients most closely matched isolates from other Caribbean islands. The authors conclude, therefore, that it is likely that the bacteria was introduced to the U.S.V.I. during severe weather events and that the bacteria may now be established in the U.S.V.I.

Identity

Maynard, Donna-Maria B. and Mia A. Jules. “Exploring Her Roots: Black Caribbean Hair Identity and Going Natural Using Social Media Networks.” Journal of Black Psychology (November 2020): 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0095798420971892.

• Black Caribbean women wearing natural hairstyles remains a controversial issue in the English-speaking Caribbean. Maynard and Jules hypothesized that social networks could provide women with support as they began wearing natural hairstyles. The article begins with an explanation of the historic denigration of Black women’s natural hair and a discussion of Black Caribbean women’s various domains of identity. Then, the authors present their study of how social networks can affect Black Caribbean women who choose to wear natural hairstyles. The study included 12 participants who reported that social networks can “provide an informative and supportive environment for exploration of Black-hair identity.”

Oil

Thomas, Clive. “Guyana and the Advent of World-Class Petroleum Finds.” In Handbook of Caribbean Economies, edited by Robert E. Looney. New York: Routledge, 2020.

• TheHandbook of Caribbean Economies brings together essays on various aspects of economies in the Caribbean. Chapter 21, by Clive Thomas, focuses on Guyana’s oil reserves. The chapter begins with a discussion of the Guyanese economy before the oil reserves were discovered. Then, Thomas moves into projections for the economy in consideration of the rise of the oil industry in the country, and argues that there is much more oil in the reserves than is currently estimated.

Social Services

Clarke, Anna. “Foster Care Service Barriers and Social Work Practice in the Virgin Islands.” PhD diss., Walden University, 2020. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=10820&context=dissertations.

• This study looked into issues that social workers face when working with foster children in the U.S.V.I. who are aging out of the foster care system. The author presents information gathered from interviews with social workers from the Division of Children and Family Services and finds that there were six main issues: “(a) lack of family support/community involvement, (b) lack of housing, (c) adolescents’ lack of intellectual capacity/independent living skills, (d) lack of training/employment opportunities for adolescents, (e) services not suited for adolescents, and (f) uncooperative and combative clients.” Clark suggests that identifying these main issues may be useful so that the Division of Children and Family Services can address them and improve support for those who age out of the foster care system.

Theory

Medwinter, Sancha Doxilly and Tannuja D. Rozario. “Caribbean Womanism: decolonial theorizing of Caribbean women’s oppression, survival, and resistance.” Ethnic and Racial Studies 20, no. 1 (November 2020). https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870.2020.1839666.

• Many institutions, scholars, and students have been reconsidering their practices and scholarship and working to decenter whiteness and maleness. Medwinter and Rozario contribute to this goal by here proposing the sociological framework of Caribbean womanism. This framework centers Caribbean women, culture, norms, and history. It further pays close attention to historic and ongoing effects of imperialism on the region and Caribbean women’s lives and experiences. This framework also encourages the development of a “Caribbean diasporic consciousness that is region-facing” which would be the foundation for scholars to study issues that affect both the Caribbean and the diaspora. Medwinter and Rozario assert that this framework will be essential for accurate and thorough studies of “Caribbean women’s oppression, survival, and liberators resistance,” and that it can foster community solidarity and resistance to oppression.

Women’s Health

Fadelu, Temidayo, Ruth Damuse, Joarly Lormil, Elizabeth Pecan, Lauren Greenberg, Cyrille Dubuisson, Viergela Pierre, Scott A. Triedman, Lawrence N. Shulman, and Timothy R. Rebbeck. “Body Mass Index, Chemotherapy-Related Weight Changes, and Disease-Free Survival in Haitian Women With Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer.” JCO Global Oncology 6, (November 2020): 1656-1665. https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/GO.20.00307.

• In this study, the authors sought to determine what connections may exist between pre-chemotherapy weight or chemotherapy-related weight changes and disease-free survival among Haitian women with non-metastatic breast cancer. The authors found that there was no correlation between pre-chemotherapy weight or weight changes and disease-free survival.

Mass Media

Limetree Bay

“Limetree Bay Replaces Chief Executive Officer.” The St. Croix Source, November 2, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/11/02/limetree-bay-replaces-chief-executive-officer/.

• Limetree Bay announced that CEO Brian Lever will be replaced by Jeffrey Rinker. The change will take effect November 11 but Lever will stay with Limetree through November 30. The company’s board chair said that Rinker was chosen specifically for the company’s next phase. Rinker previously worked at ConocoPhillips for 32 years and at Hovensa for the year before it shut down operations. Most recently, Rinker was the executive vice president for Husky Energy. He has also worked at OMV Group and BP. The CEO change comes after reports that BP was considering canceling its contract with Limetree Bay.

Ellis, Susan. “Clema Lewis: V.I. Should Discuss Racism Now.” The St. Croix Source, November 24, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/11/24/clema-lewis-v-i-should-discuss-racism-now/.

• The Women’s Coalition of St. Croix is conducting online seminars on racism. There are three seminars left, and Clema Lewis, the executive director, says that U.S.V.I. residents should participate. The group and others have been working to find ways to address racism in the U.S.V.I., particularly since the protests following the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. She specifically notes that the people who come to St. Croix to work at the refinery are examples of people “who don’t respect the culture.”

Environment

“Partially Sunken Tug Leaking Oil in St. Croix.” MarineLink, November 17, 2020. https://www.marinelink.com/news/partially-sunken-tug-leaking-oil-st-croix-483274.

• An abandoned tugboat in Krause Lagoon is starting to sink and is leaking oil. The owner of St. Croix Renaissance group reported the spill, after which the Coast Guard responded and confirmed the spill. Approximately 85% of the spilled oil is contained within a containment boom and the rest is within approximately 50 yards of the boat. Although it is not known how much oil was onboard when it was abandoned, the Coast Guard estimates that this type of vessel can carry approximately 48,000 gallons of fuel and 2,000 gallons of lube oil. The U.S. Coast Guard is working on hiring an Oil Spill Removal Organization.

Carlson, Suzanne. “Coast Guard works to contain oil leaking from boat in lagoon.” The Virgin Islands Daily News, November 18. 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/coast-guard-works-to-contain-oil-leaking-from-boat-in-lagoon/article_e70f2d37-f6dd-59b1-abc2-071a6c02e332.html.

• An abandoned tugboat in Krause Lagoon is leaking oil. On November 12, the owner of St. Croix Renaissance Group reported the spill and positioned a containment boom around the tugboat to mitigate the spread of the spilled oil. Although it is not known how much oil was onboard when it was abandoned, the Coast Guard estimates that this type of vessel can carry approximately 48,000 gallons of fuel and 2,000 gallons of lube oil. The U.S. Coast Guard is working on cleaning up the spilled oil and has said that approximately 85% of the spilled oil is contained. The Coast Guard is also working to hire an Oil Spill Removal Organization.

“US Coast Guard Manages Oil Cleanup from Sunken Tugboat in St. Croix.” The Maritime Executive, November 18, 2020. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/us-coast-guard-manages-oil-cleanup-from-sunken-tugboat-in-st-croix.

• The U.S. Coast Guard is managing the clean up of oil spilling from an abandoned tugboat in St. Croix. On November 12 the owner of St. Croix Renaissance Group reported the spill and the Coast Guard responded. Although it is not known how much oil was onboard when it was abandoned, the Coast Guard estimates that this type of vessel can carry approximately 48,000 gallons of fuel and 2,000 gallons of lube oil. Approximately 85% of the spilled oil is contained within a containment boom and the rest is within approximately 50 yards of the boat. The Coast Guard hired an Oil Spill Removal Organization, the National Response Corporation to recover oil and clean up the spill. So far approximately 1,500 gallons of contaminated water have been recovered. There have not yet been any reports of wildlife being affected.

Dias, Diana. “Oil Cleanup Continues for Abandoned Tugboat.” The St. Croix Source, November 20, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/11/20/clean-up-effort-continue-for-abandoned-tugboat/.

• The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing to manage the clean up of oil spilling from an abandoned tugboat in Krause Lagoon and has hired an Oil Spill Removal Organization, the National Response Corporation to recover oil and clean up the spill. So far approximately 1,500 gallons of contaminated water have been recovered. Coast Guard Public Affairs Officer Ricardo Castrodad notes that while the National Response Corporation has cleaned up a significant amount of contaminated water, the response will be ongoing because oil continues to leak from the vessel and they do not know how much oil the vessel was carrying.

December 2020

Academic Publications

Empire

Rose, Sophie and Elisabeth Heijmans. “From Impropriety to Betrayal: Policing Non-Marital Sex in the Early Modern Dutch Empire.” Journal of Social History 54, (December 2020). https://doi.org/10.1093/jsh/shaa054.

• This paper looks at the policing of sex by Dutch trading companies in Dutch colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. The authors show that the policing of sex was an existing tool of social control in Europe, however it took on new racial and imperial meanings in colonies. Rose and Heijmans show that the primary goal of policing sex in Dutch colonies was to keep separations between colonized peoples based on race, religion, and status in order to maintain a clear social hierarchy with Europeans in the highest positions. They argue that existing European policies on the policing of sex were adapted in order to create this hierarchy. Whereas in Europe the primary factors that determined the severity of charges were gender and marital status, meaning that women were policed more strictly and that extramarital sex was considered a more severe transgression, in Dutch colonies the primary factors that determined the severity of charges were gender and racial or religious groups, meaning that sex between European women and non-European men was policed more severely than sex between people of the same race, and sex between European men and non-European women.

Environmental Science

Angeli, Nicole Frances and Lee Austin Fitzgerald. “Reintroducing species when threats still exist: assessing the suitability of contemporary landscapes for island endemics.” Oryx (December 2020): 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605319001091.

• Reintroducing endangered species into habitats can be difficult, however Angeli and Fitzgerald show here that threats to reintroduction should be considered in conjunction with recent landscape changes. The endangered St. Croix ground lizard, for example, was removed from St. Croix to facilitate the species’ survival after it was threatened by habitat changes and by mongooses. The authors show that more recent habitat changes with new types of land cover have created the conditions to potentially successfully re-introduce the St. Croix ground lizard. Therefore, the authors argue that recent environmental changes should be taken into consideration for the purpose of species reintroduction.

Edmunds, Peter J. “Vital rates of small reef corals are associated with variation in climate.” Limnology and Oceanography(December 2020). https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.11650.

• This study tracked different environmental factors including water temperature and rainfall to determine how they affected the growth and fatality rates of different sizes of coral. They determined that coral usually stayed in the same size class; that the smallest coral had the highest mortality rate and a growth rate of .688; that there were connections between growth rates and the number of days with elevated sea temperatures and rainfall; and that there was evidence of phenotypic changes related to the ways that coral responded to environmental factors.

Meiling, Sonora, Erinn M. Muller, Tyler B. Smith, and Marilyn E. Brandt. “3D Photogrammetry Reveals Dynamics of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) Lesion Progression Across a Thermal Stress Event.” Frontiers in Marine Sciences 7, (December 2020). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.597643.

• Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) poses a significant threat to Caribbean coral reefs. Within one year of emerging in a reef in the U.S.V.I. it had spread to several others in the area. This study measured the rate of tissue loss caused by SCTLD in six coral species and found that tissue loss rates decreased in conjunction with increased thermal stress. The authors thus recommend that efforts to address SCTLD prioritize the period during and after thermal stress events because the disease will be at lower levels during those time periods.

Platenberg, Renata J. “Monitoring Vocalizing Species by Engaging Community Volunteers Using Cell Phones.” Wildlife Society Bulletin 44, no. 4 (December 2020): 782-789. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1141.

• This paper reports on the potential benefits of encouraging members of the public to assist with data collection, otherwise known as citizen science. Some methods of public data collection can create errors as members of the public may not be properly trained. However, citizen science can be usefully employed if the study is designed to not require individuals to make decisions or have expertise in the field. In this instance, the author directed a synoptic amphibian survey in the U.S.V.I. and asked the public to submit cell phone recordings of frogs. Specialized software was used to identify the species, and results showed that the species identified in this study were similar to previous results and they were able to survey a much larger space. Thus, this example suggests that citizen science can be a useful and low-cost tool to improve studies if designed properly.

Prentiss, Nancy K. “Nocturnally swarming Caribbean polychaetes of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, USA.” Zoosymposia19, (December 2020): 91-102. https://doi.org/10.11646/zoosymposia.19.1.12.

• In this study, Prentiss sampled nocturnally swarming polychaetes, a type of marine worm, in the Virgin Islands National Parks over the course of ten years. She found that there are patterns in swarming timing that corresponded with lunar phases. While three families of polychaetes swarmed nightly, there were two families that only swarmed during their reproductive stages around the full moon and the new moon, and three others that only swarmed during waxing or waning periods.

Race & Gender Studies

Alvarez, Laura Giles and Jeetendra Khadan. “Mind the Gender Gap: A Picture of the socioeconomic trends surrounding COVID-19 in the Caribbean with a gender lens.” Inter-American Development Bank. December 2020. https://publications.iadb.org/publications/english/document/Mind-the-Gender-Gap-A-Picture-of-the-Socioeconomic-Trends-Surrounding-COVID-19-in-the-Caribbean-with-a-Gender-Lens.pdf.

• This paper looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected men and women differently in the Caribbean. The authors show that while single men have experienced more business closures, women, especially single women, have been affected the most by the pandemic. More women have lost their jobs, the quality of life for single women has declined more than that of single and partnered men, and domestic violence against women has increased. These effects of COVID-19 threaten to worsen pre-existing gender inequality. The authors therefore recommend that social assistance programs target single women for assistance.

Ghisyawan, Krystal Nandini. “Decolonizing the Postcolonial Body in Diasporic Time and Space: South Asians in the Caribbean.” In Gender, Sexuality, Decolonization: South Asia in the World Perspective, edited by Ahonaa Roy. New York: Routledge, 2020.

• The essays in this edited volume examine gender and sexuality non-conformity in the South Asian diaspora through a decolonial lens and using “southern/non-Western and subaltern theorizations of gender and sexuality.” In chapter seven, Krystal Nandini Ghisyawan studies Indo-Trinidadian women who love women and examines how they engage daily in resistance and de-colonization.

Rosado-Román, Alexandra. “The Pimp God and the Welfare Queens: An Economy of Desire in the “Promiscuous Caribbean.”” Political Theology (December 2020). https://doi.org/10.1080/1462317X.2020.1855842.

• In this paper, Rosado-Román examines how Christianity has been used as a tool of empire to both hyper-sexualize and restrict the sexuality of Afro-Puerto Rican women. For example, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, both sought to restrict sexual behaviors in Puerto Rico and sanctioned a brothel that was patronized by clergy members and Spanish soldiers. The U.S. has continued this colonial practice of hyper-sexualizing Afro-Puerto Rican women and restricting their sexuality in many ways, including through the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (who Rosado-Román refers to as “welfare queens”) who sought to enforce an American Christian concept of sexual morality and who cooperated with the military to incarcerate prostitutes. Further, the U.S. restricted Afro-Puerto Rican cultural demonstrations, claiming that they were associated with prostitution.

Slavery

Dunnavant, Justin P. “Have Confidence in the Sea: Maritime Maroons and Fugitive Geographies.” Antipode (December 2020). https://doi.org/10.1111/anti.12695.

• Maroon Ridge, the only maroon settlement in St. Croix, was the only area in St. Croix not included on the 1754 map, the first map of St. Croix to be commissioned by Denmark. This is despite the fact that surveyors, enslavers, and the colonial government knew about the settlement. Dunnavant argues that the omission of Maroon Ridge constitutes a form of violence and erasure, and he thus seeks to “[rewrite] a Black geographic presence through a reading of mobility of maroon land/seascapes.” He accomplishes this by evaluating ocean currents to find potential sea routes for maroons. Using the ESRI particle tracking model, he determines that with minimal rowing and steering, ocean currents would generally have taken sea-faring maroons to Vieques or Puerto Rico, with the specific area dependent on the currents during different times of the year.

Reifschneider, Meredith. “Those of Little Note: Enslaved Plantation “Sick Nurses.”” Nursing History Review 29, no. 1 (December 2020). https://connect.springerpub.com/content/sgrnhr/29/1/179.

• This article looks at the enslaved Black women in St. Croix who practiced medicine. (This article is not available through any library to which I have access.)

Women’s Health

Sealy, Diadrey-Anne, Naomi Modeste, and Patricia Dyett. “Barriers and facilitators to the HPC vaccine among mothers of adolescent girls: a qualitative study conducted in Trinidad and Tobago.” Women in Health (December 2020). https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2020.1856295.

• The HPV vaccine can prevent cervical cancer, a serious issue in the Caribbean, and this study examined reasons why mothers of adolescent girls did or did not accept the HPV vaccine for their daughters. The main reasons why mothers did not accept the vaccine were: a lack of knowledge about the cause of cervical cancer and the vaccine’s efficacy and safety, misinformation about the vaccine, religious schools not permitting distribution on campus, concern that it could encourage risky sexual activity, and concerns over racism in the medical field. The authors recommend campaigns to provide the public with information about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine.

Mass Media

Environment

“Update 2: Coast Guard Monitors Final Stage of Oil Recovery Operations for 3 Abandoned Tugboats.” The St. Croix Source, December 4, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/12/04/update-2-coast-guard-monitors-final-stage-of-oil-recovery-operations-for-3-abandoned-tugboats/.

• In this press release, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that the clean-up of the oil spilled from an abandoned tugboat in Krause Lagoon is nearing completion. So far the National Response Corporation has recovered approximately 15,000 gallons of contaminated water, approximately 90% of which was oil. The response team also removed a total of 10,000 gallons of oil from two other abandoned tugboats in the immediate area to prevent a similar spill in the future. The Coast Guard estimates that the clean up will cost approximately $475,000 and is still trying to determine who is responsible for the incident.

Limetree Bay

“Limetree Bay Brings Crucian Christmas Theme to Their Administration Building.” The St. Croix Source, December 2, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/12/02/limetree-bay-brings-crucian-christmas-theme-to-their-administration-building/.

• Limetree Bay decorated the administration building for Christmas. The decor, organized by Ms. Perez, included a moku jumbie statue by Evelyn Pena, a poinsettia wall, and a Christmas tree. Upon entering the building employees were met by Patricia Canegata, a quadrille dancer, who handed out butter cookies.

“Limetree Bay Brings Crucian Christmas Theme to Their Administration Building.” The St. Thomas Source, December 2, 2020. https://stthomassource.com/content/2020/12/02/limetree-bay-brings-crucian-christmas-theme-to-their-administration-building/.

• Limetree Bay decorated the administration building for Christmas. The decor, organized by Ms. Perez, included a moku jumbie statue by Evelyn Pena, a poinsettia wall, and a Christmas tree. Upon entering the building employees were met by Patricia Canegata, a quadrille dancer, who handed out butter cookies.

“EPA Finalizes Clean Air Act Permit for Limetree Bay.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, December 3, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-business/virgin-islands-epa-finalizes-clean-air-act-permit-for-limetree-bay.

• After careful review of comments submitted during the public comment period, and some changes to the permit because of the comments, the EPA finalized a “Clean Air Act Plant-wide Applicability Limit” permit for the whole Limetree Bay facility and released responses to the public comments. The permit establishes facility-wide limits on seven pollutants, but allows changes in operating procedures and equipment as long as the limits are not exceeded.

Lee, Bethaney. “Revenue Projections Show Pandemic’s Impact at $70 Million for FY 2021.” The St. Croix Source, December 3, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/12/03/revenue-projections-show-pandemics-impact-at-70-million-for-fy-2021/?doing_wp_cron=1609375690.4768469333648681640625.

• At a Revenue Estimating Conference Governor Bryan and Budget Director Jenifer O’Neal explained the economic effects of the pandemic on the U.S.V.I. Government revenue has significantly decreased due to pandemic-related reductions in funds raised from income taxes, corporate income taxes, property taxes and other funding sources. 2020 revenue was $845 million, 2021 revenue is estimated at $773 million, 2022 revenue is estimated to be $756 million, and 2023 revenue is estimated to be $850 million. Governor Bryan said that public works projects are especially important in 2021 because of the effects of the pandemic on the tourism industry and on the future of Limetree Bay.

“EPA Finalizes Clean Air Act Plantwide Applicability Limit Permit for Limetree.” The St. Croix Source, December 4, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/12/04/epa-finalizes-clean-air-act-plantwide-applicability-limit-permit-for-limetree/.

• This press release announced that the EPA, after reviewing public comments, has finalized a Clean Air Act Plantwide Applicability Limit permit for the entire Limetree Bay facility. The permit establishes limits on seven pollutants and monitoring and reporting requirements. Limetree Bay is permitted to make changes in operating procedures and equipment as long as the limits are not exceeded.

“EPA Finalizes Clean Air Act Plantwide Applicability Limit Permit for Limetree.” The St. John Source, December 4, 2020. https://stjohnsource.com/2020/12/04/epa-finalizes-clean-air-act-plantwide-applicability-limit-permit-for-limetree/.

• This press release announced that the EPA, after reviewing public comments, has finalized a Clean Air Act Plantwide Applicability Limit permit for the entire Limetree Bay facility. The permit establishes limits on seven pollutants and monitoring and reporting requirements. Limetree Bay is permitted to make changes in operating procedures and equipment as long as the limits are not exceeded.

“Gas and Steam Engulf Sky Over Limetree Bay, Company Says it was ‘Minor Refinery Upset.’” The Virgin Islands Consortium, December 8, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-community_center/virgin-islands-gas-engulfs-skies-over-limetree-bay-company-says-it-was-minor-refinery-upset.

• On Monday, December 7 a large, dense plume of gas and steam was emitted from Limetree Bay. Many onlookers thought the emission was smoke and were concerned that there was a fire at the facility. In a statement posted to Facebook, Limetree Bay explained that the emission, which caused an odor, was steam and light hydrocarbon, not smoke. The emission was caused by a “minor refinery upset on Vacuum Distillation Tower #3.” The statement also said that there were no injuries and that “the unit was shut down out of an abundance of caution.”

“Steam release at Limetree Bay.” The Virgin Islands Daily News, December 8, 2020. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/steam-release-at-limetree-bay/article_c54b464f-a2b7-5d3e-9f79-f297825d6a65.html.

• Limetree Bay released a statement after a large, unusual steam emission on Monday, December 7. The statement explains that the cause of the steam cloud was a “minor refinery upset on Vacuum Distillation Tower #3” and that the emission, which caused an odor, consisted of steam and light hydrocarbon. The statement also said that there were no injuries and that “the unit was shut down out of an abundance of caution.”

Kossler, Bill. “Steam and Oil Plume Causes Odor at Limetree Bay Refinery.” The St. Croix Source, December 9, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/12/09/steam-and-oil-plume-causes-odor-at-limetree-bay-refinery/.

• On Monday, December 7 an issue at Limetree Bay caused an odor that bothered nearby residents. The issue, according to a spokesperson, was a“minor refinery upset on Vacuum Distillation Tower #3” that caused an emission of steam and light hydrocarbon. The statement also said that there were no injuries and that “the unit was shut down out of an abundance of caution.” The author notes that the Hovensa refinery had similar issues.

Sanicola, Laura. “Exclusive-Caribbean refinery sells first product after yearlong delay.” Reuters, December 14, 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/refinery-startup-limetree-bay/exclusive-caribbean-refinery-sells-first-product-after-yearlong-delay-idUSL1N2IK1JQ.

• After almost a year of delays and $2.7 billion spent to restart the refinery, Limetree Bay made its first sale, approximately 216,000 barrels of naphtha, to BP in Beaumont, Texas. The refinery is still working on restarting the units that produce gasoline and diesel. BP may cancel their contract with Limetree Bay if the refinery does not meet certain production levels by the end of 2020.

Ellis, Susan. “Governor Lists Priorities for Vision 2040 Initiative.” The St. Croix Source, December 16, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/12/16/governor-lists-priorities-for-vision-2040-initiative/.

• During the U.S.V.I. Community Business Forum Governor Bryan announced priorities to help bring businesses to the U.S.V.I. and to create job opportunities, one of which was a plan to expand the Limetree Bay refinery.

“Limetree Bay Man Camp Security Guard Allegedly Robbed at Gunpoint, Police Investigating.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, December 20, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-crime/virgin-islands-limetree-bay-man-camp-security-guard-allegedly-robbed-at-gunpoint-police-investigating-.

• Early in the morning on Saturday, December 19 the security guard who was stationed at the entrance to the Limetree Bay Man Camp was allegedly robbed at gunpoint.

Tan, Daphne. “Viewpoint: Exports, blending to keep naphtha afloat.” Argus Media, December 21, 2020. https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2170922-viewpoint-exports-blending-to-keep-naphtha-afloat.

• Due to the COVID-19-related decrease in gasoline demand, the demand for naphtha also declined. The U.S. naphtha market stayed afloat in 2020 primarily because naphtha has multiple uses, including in gasoline blending and in petrochemical production, and there was still some demand in Asia and Latin America, however future demand is still in question. Limetree Bay might provide a market for US naphtha because the facility plans to use it in the process of producing hydrogen to power the facility. However the status of the refinery is still in question due to multiple and ongoing delays.

De Sanctis, Nicola. “Viewpoint: Global politics to shape WAF crude markets.” Argus Media, December 22, 2020. https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2171349-viewpoint-global-politics-to-shape-waf-crude-markets.

• This article explains how the demand for West African crude oil has been and will continue to be shaped by global politics, including Joe Biden’s plan for normalizing relations with China, his plan for reducing U.S. reliance on fossil fuels, and European COVID-19 restrictions. Demand is currently increasing in the U.S. Gulf and in the Caribbean, and a shipment of heavy sweet Doba crude oil from Chad arrived at Limetree Bay in December.

“Limetree Bay Remains Mum on Thursday Fire at Facility.” The Virgin Islands Consortium, December 28, 2020. https://viconsortium.com/vi-business/virgin-islands-limetree-bay-remains-mum-on-thursday-fire-at-facility-.

• On December 24 people living near Limetree Bay posted online about what appeared to be a fire at the facility.The Virgin Islands Consortium contacted the Limetree Bay Spokesperson, Erica Parsons, who confirmed there was a fire, that it was extinguished, that no one had been injured, and that investigations were underway. Limetree Bay officials have not provided any more details. The last incident that they have updated the public on is the December 7 “minor refinery upset.” This incident caused a large, odor-causing steam and hydrocarbon emission that many thought was smoke. According to the press release, there were no injuries and “the unit was shut down out of an abundance of caution.”

“Ups and Downs of 2020: A Look Back at the News the Source Covered.” The St. Croix Source, December 31, 2020. https://stcroixsource.com/2020/12/31/ups-and-downs-of-2020-a-look-back-at-the-news-the-source-covered/.

• This article, published on the last day of 2020, looks at some of the news stories that the Croix Source has covered over the course of the year. One topic discussed was economic issues, including the continued delays in re-opening the refinery and the October reports that BP might cancel its contract.